Accusing the BJP-led government of political vendetta, Sonia told reporters outside Parliament, “Why should I be scared of anyone? I am Indira Gandhi’s daughter-in-law. I am not scared of anyone.” When asked if it was a case of political vendetta, “I leave it on you to judge,” she said before chairing a meeting of Congress MPs in Parliament, which was adjourned following uproar. Later in the day, Rahul too termed the developments in the case as “political vendetta”. “I absolutely see political vendetta. This is the way the central government works,” he said in Puducherry. “Centre thinks they can stop me from asking questions about them by “vendetta” politics. That is not going to happen,” he added.
The Congress has also decided to approach the Supreme Court against a Delhi High Court order that the party chief and vice-president were not exempt from personal appearance. Metropolitan Magistrate Lovleen on Tuesday allowed the plea by Sonia and Rahul seeking exemption from personal appearance. The trial court has directed all the six accused persons to appear in person as well. Senior Advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi appearing for accused told the trial court that Sonia and Rahul were “keen to appear” before the court in National Herald case. He added they were seeking only deferment on Tuesday. He alleged that the ruling party was using proxy litigation to attack senior Congress leaders out of political malice. “This is political vendetta at its worst, Dr Subramanian Swamy, the complainant in the case, is a senior member of BJP Central Committee,” said Singhvi.
Meanwhile rejecting the Congress charge of ‘political vendetta’ by the government in the National Herald case, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley on Tuesday said that Sonia and Rahul should face the court. Jaitley said India is not a banana republic in which Parliament or the media can decide the guilt or innocence in such matters. “No political vendetta. A private complaint was lodged. Government had nothing to do with it. The High Court has dismissed their case and asked them to go and face trial. Nobody in this country has immunity from law. They can challenge the orders in a higher court or face proceedings,” said Jaitley.
Rallying behind the top leadership, Congress leaders forced both houses of Parliament to be adjourned for the day, raising the Herald case, this being done at a crucial time when the government is desperate to pass the Goods and Services Tax (GST) bill. The Congress accused the ruling party of targeting its leaders through Subramanian Swamy, the BJP leader who filed the National Herald case.
These developments in Parliament have far reaching implications as they virtually seal the fate of the GST Bill. “The GST Bill has gone for a sky walk,” said Anand Sharma, the Congress’ deputy leader in the Rajya Sabha. Disruptions from Tuesday onwards were just the beginning said a source from the Congress, indicating that the passage of GST now seems dismal.
Meanwhile expressing confidence over the possibility of winning the case Subramanian Swamy said “My assessment is that it is an open and shut case and they ( Sonia and Rahul) will go to jail,” he said.