The Congress party on Monday escalated its attack on the central government following relief granted to its senior leaders Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi in the National Herald case. A Delhi court refused to take cognisance of the Enforcement Directorate’s charges of money laundering, prompting the Congress to demand the immediate resignation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah.
Senior Congress leaders alleged that the National Herald case was pursued with political intent and accused the Centre of misusing the Enforcement Directorate to harass opposition leaders. They argued that the court’s decision clearly indicates the lack of substance in the allegations and exposes what they described as a pattern of political vendetta against the Congress leadership.
Addressing the media, Congress leaders said the ruling dispensation must take moral responsibility for what they termed as the abuse of power. According to the party, investigative agencies have been repeatedly used to intimidate opposition figures, weaken democratic institutions, and silence dissent. The Congress maintained that such actions undermine the rule of law and erode public confidence in independent institutions.
The National Herald case has been under legal scrutiny for several years and involves allegations related to financial irregularities. The Enforcement Directorate had filed charges accusing Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi of money laundering. However, the Delhi court’s refusal to take cognisance of these charges has been viewed by the Congress as a significant legal setback for the central agency.
Congress leaders stated that the court order validates their long-standing claim that the case lacked legal merit. They asserted that the repeated summoning of party leaders and continuation of investigations were aimed at diverting public attention from pressing national issues such as inflation, unemployment, and economic challenges.
The party also announced that it would continue to raise the issue both inside and outside Parliament. Congress MPs have staged protests in the Parliament complex, accusing the government of undermining democratic values and misusing institutions for political gains.
Political observers note that the ruling party has consistently denied allegations of interference in investigative agencies, maintaining that law enforcement bodies operate independently. However, the Congress insists that accountability must be fixed at the highest level, arguing that the court’s decision raises serious questions about the government’s approach towards opposition parties.
As political tensions escalate, the Congress has signaled that it will intensify its campaign against what it describes as authoritarian tendencies. The party has also called on other opposition groups to unite against the alleged misuse of investigative agencies, positioning the issue as a broader battle to protect democratic institutions in the country.
