The Congress party, on Wednesday, called for the resignation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah following a Delhi court's decision to refuse taking cognisance of the Enforcement Directorate's (ED) money laundering charges against Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi in the National Herald case.
The opposition party further pledged to highlight what it described as the "vendetta politics" directed at its leadership, emphasising that the Congress workers are deeply agitated and prepared to demonstrate their strength in response to the alleged "misuse of agencies".
"We will keep fighting them both inside and outside Parliament and teach them a lesson," declared party president Mallikarjun Kharge during a press conference.
Providing significant relief to Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, and five others, a Delhi court on Tuesday declined to take cognisance of the ED's money laundering charges against them in the National Herald case. The court ruled that the agency's investigation originated from a private complaint rather than a registered FIR.
"I want to say that after this judgement Modi and Shah should resign because it is like a slap on their face. They should give resignation, as they should not harass people like this," Kharge stated at the press conference, joined by party leaders K C Venugopal, Abhishek Singhvi, Jairam Ramesh, and Pawan Khera.
"They should know that if they do such things people will not tolerate it," he added. Kharge noted that the Congress has been addressing the matter politically, including through protests and marches whenever its top leaders were summoned by investigative agencies.
"We have been fighting on the streets, in Parliament, outside it, and will continue to do it and teach them a lesson," he said. Venugopal affirmed that the Congress would expose the "vendetta politics" of the Modi government.
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The entire Congress cadre is agitated and will show its strength all over India against the "misuse of agencies."
Singhvi remarked that the law has spoken louder than noise, describing the National Herald case as a narrative of political vendetta and harassment.
In delivering the order amid a case involving years of political controversy and legal disputes, Special Judge Vishal Gogne stated that taking cognisance of the ED’s prosecution complaint for the offence of money laundering was “impermissible in law.”
The ED's complaint arose from an investigation based on a private complaint filed by Subramanian Swamy, rather than an FIR for a predicate offence, according to the judge.
The court observed that it would now be premature and imprudent to address the arguments presented by the ED and the proposed accused regarding the merits of the allegations, particularly since cognisance must be declined on a clear legal ground.
“Other arguments possibly live to fight another day,” the court noted. ED officials indicated that the agency might appeal the court's order after consulting law officers, including Solicitor General Tushar Mehta.
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The ED has charged Congress leaders Sonia and Rahul Gandhi, along with the late party leaders Motilal Vora and Oscar Fernandes, as well as Suman Dubey, Sam Pitroda, and the private company Young Indian, with conspiracy and money laundering.
Allegations include the acquisition of properties worth approximately Rs 2,000 crore owned by Associated Journals Limited (AJL), the publisher of the National Herald newspaper.
In response to the order, the Congress on Tuesday asserted that the "illegality" of the Narendra Modi government and its "politically motivated prosecution stand fully exposed." In a statement, the Congress declared that the court's finding deemed the ED’s proceedings against its leadership—Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi—in the case as “completely illegal and mala fide.”
Also Read: National Herald case: Court delays ED chargesheet review
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