cm-sukhu-defends-ad-funds-to-herald-calls-it-our-paper

Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu has reaffirmed his government’s commitment to the National Herald, describing it as “our paper” and asserting that it would continue to receive advertisements “in plenty”.

 

His remarks come amid criticism from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), following the Enforcement Directorate’s (ED) chargesheet against senior Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi in the National Herald case.

 

The prosecution complaint, filed before a special court in Delhi on 9 April, accuses the Gandhis and others of laundering ₹988 crore under provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).

 

The BJP has alleged that the Congress government in Himachal Pradesh released large volumes of advertisement funds to the National Herald.

 

Responding to this, Sukhu said, “National Herald is our paper and we will keep giving advertisements to it in plenty.”

 

The allegations were first raised during the recently concluded Budget Session of the Himachal Pradesh Vidhan Sabha. BJP legislator Janak Raj had posed a question regarding the volume of advertisements distributed to various newspapers, weeklies, news channels and digital portals. Following this, BJP state president Dr Rajiv Bindal accused the Congress of disproportionately favouring National Herald with government advertisements.

 

The BJP’s renewed criticism coincides with widespread protests by the Congress across the country. The party staged demonstrations outside ED offices on Wednesday, condemning the filing of the chargesheet and accusing the central government of political vendetta.

 

Congress leaders described the ED’s action as an indication of the “panic and moral bankruptcy” of the Centre. “This despotic government wants to divert attention from public issues and the deepening economic crisis,” party leaders alleged.

 

In retaliation, the BJP maintained that while the Congress had the right to protest, “no one has the licence to loot”. Party spokesmen stated that investigative agencies would not be intimidated by the Congress’ “threats”.

 

The National Herald case, which has been the subject of prolonged political wrangling, continues to provoke sharp exchanges between the ruling party at the Centre and the principal Opposition.