Congress President Sonia Gandhi failed to appear before the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Wednesday, as scheduled. The Congress President has sought more time from the agency as she has not tested Covid-19 negative yet. Sonia, who was summoned by the ED in a case related to the National Herald newspaper, had tested Covid positive on June 2.
Her son and former party chief Rahul Gandhi, facing the same case, has been asked to appear before the ED on June 13 after he sought exemption on an earlier date. Officials said the agency wants to record the statements of Rahul and Sonia Gandhi under criminal sections of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). Congress sources said that Rahul will face the ED on June 13 and the party is planning to make it a ‘big event to show its strength.’
Defending the non-appearance, the Congress said its leaders Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi will appear before the ED as they have nothing to hide from the probe agency, and that the BJP should learn lessons from it.
Congress spokesperson Pawan Khera told reporters, “We are a law-abiding party. We follow rules. So, if they have been summoned, of course, they we will go. We have nothing to hide”.
“We are not like them. We remember when Mr Amit Shah was running around in 2002 to 2013,” he said. “They will learn some lessons from us on what kind of people who adhere to the path of truth are. They should learn from us,” Khera said.
Terming the ED summons “politics of revenge,” Congress leader Randeep Singh Surjewala had said: “This is a politics of vendetta and revenge by the BJP to target
opposition leaders as they have done to other opponents in the country.”
Meanwhile, the Congress is preparing to put up a show of its strength on June 13 when Rahul will appear before the ED. Congress is planning a big event to show its strength and convey its political message to Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led BJP government.According to sources, a meeting of All India Congress Committee (AICC) General Secretaries, State Incharges, and Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) Chiefs has been called on Thursday to decide the strategy for the day.In addition, Congress MPs, and Congress Working Committee (CWC) members have also been asked to be present in Delhi on the day.
A senior party leader siad, “All the Members of Parliament have been asked to be present in the national capital on June 13, and they will also be marching towards the ED Office along with Rahul Gandhi.
The meeting has been called to discuss and take a view of the leaders across the country to take a final call on this as there is another view that along with Delhi, simultaneously, protests should be held in every state capital by the Pradesh Congress Committees.”