National Herald case: Govt. silences critics, says judiciary functions independently

Minister of State in Prime Minister's Office (PMO) Jitendra Singh on Tuesday rubbished the opposition's charges that the ruling BJP was indulging in vendetta politics in the National Herald case and said the judiciary functions independently in the country.

"The whole nation knows the legal system of the nation is independent. If anyone talks like this, it shows that the person has no faith in the judiciary system of the nation," Singh told ANI.

Singh further said that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has no role to play in the National Herald case.

"The way they (Congress) are accusing that it is taking place due to pressure from the government, the people of the nation can understand that it is putting a question mark on the legal system of the country," he added.

Earlier in the day, Congress president Sonia Gandhi stood her ground over the charges being levelled against her in the National Herald case by senior BJP leader Subramanian Swamy and said that she has no reason to be scared of anyone.

"I'm daughter-in-law of Indira Gandhi; I'm not scared of anything. Why should I be scared?" she said here.

When asked if she smelled a political vendetta in the case and that she was being targeted by the BJP, she replied saying, "I leave it to you to judge."

However, the BJP has vehemently slammed the charges of vendetta by the Congress, saying the violations have been highlighted by the court and not the ruling party.

Meanwhile, Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi have been asked to appear in the Patiala court on December 19 at 3 p.m. which is the earliest possible date given by the court.

Expressing content towards a Delhi Court's decision, Swamy today said he is completely satisfied with the development and added that he has given a pledge to the court to make sure that Sonia and Rahul and all other accused in the case are present in the next hearing.