Sonia, Rahul accuse govt of vendetta

A combative Sonia and Rahul Gandhi today accused the Modi government of pursuing "political vendetta" against them in the National Herald case while the party alleged that such cases are being pushed as the BJP wanted a "Congress-free" India.
On a day a Delhi court granted them exemption for the day and asked them to appear before it on Dec 19, the Gandhis asserted that truth would ultimately prevail despite the "vicious and malicious" attack.
"I am the daughter-in-law of Indira Gandhi. I am not scared of anyone," the Congress President asserted, invoking the legacy of the late Prime Minister.

"I am the daughter-in-law of Indira Gandhi. I am not scared of anyone. I am not disturbed." she told reporters after a meeting of the strategy committee of the Congress party in Parliament.
Both the Houses of Parliament were repeatedly adjourned and no business was conducted after the Congress members disrupted proceedings shouting slogans in the well against the government on the Herald case issue, accusing the government of political vendetta.
Speaking in Cuddalore, the party Vice President alleged that Centre thinks they can stop him from asking questions about them by "vendetta" politics.

"That is not going to happen.This is the way Central government functions. I absolutely see a political vendetta," he said.

They were asked to comment on the the Delhi High Court rejecting their pleas for quashing the summons by a Delhi court against them in the National Herald case, initiated by BJP leader Subramanaian Swamy.
Dubbing Subramanian Swamy as "His Master's Voice",
Sibal alleged at the AICC briefing that the BJP leader has been specifically assigned to "persecute and prosecute" the Congress leadership and has been told to target them.
"Who is Subramanian Swamy. He is the power of attorney of the BJP to persecute and prosecute the Congress party. We are read to face the magistrate," Sibal said.
Singhvi recalled that Swamy has been acting against the Congress leadership for long to take out his "vendetta".

"Government has increased the politics of vendetta day by day since last 18 months," he said.
Alleging politics behind Swamy's allegations, the party said that BJP wants a Congress Mukt Bharat but "people of India will ensure that Congress comes back to power with a bang like it had done in past. We have nothing to fear, nothing to hide."
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Congress' Deputy Leader in Rajya Sabha Anand Sharma alleged, "There is clear abuse of authority and we are accusing this government of targetting selectively the political opponents and using the agencies of the state. The dirty tricks department of this government is coordinated from the PMO."

Rejecting Finance Minister Arun Jaitley's counter to the Congress charge, Sharma referred to Lalitgate, Vyapam scam and alleged corruption in BJP-ruled Chhattisgarh.
"Let Jaitley have a debate on Sushma Swaraj, Lalitgate, Vasundhara Raje, her son selling Rs 10 share for Rs 96000 and that too money coming through the Mauritius route. Let them discuss Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan. Let them discuss the case of Chhattisgarh CM.
"This is hypocrisy of the highest order. Abuse of the agencies of the state. You protect where there are open cases of money laundering and you target where there are charitable trusts," he said.

Asserting that Congress will "expose" the government on the issue and that the truth will prevail eventually, the Congress leader asked had they taken a single action on any of their people, who have been accused of serious acts of omission and commission even as the entire Monsoon session was lost on the issue.
Regarding BJP's contention that Congress has no credibility as far as the issue of corruption is concerned, Sharma hit hack asking, "Do they have? Shall we tell them the list -- coffingate to multiple scams that happened in Gujarat and what is happening even today."
Dismissing the government's reach out to Congress on the GST bill, the former Commerce Minister said, "Is Indian democracy only about GST? Is engagement with Opposition only restricted to the passage and non-passage of one bill? There are other issues before the country. Have the Prime Minister and the government spoken to us about any other matter?

"Have they once discussed our strategic engagement with neighbours, what is happening in Nepal, what is the policy towards Pakistan? Why they said one thing in August to Parliament when they called off the NSA level dialogue and in a hush hush manner they tried to meet in Bangkok? Parliament is in session. They have disrespected Parliament even uptil now the Prime Minister has not informed Parliament."
Alleging that the government is engaging with Parliament will as per their agenda to pass one bill, he said, "This is no constructive dialogue with the Opposition in Parliamentary democracy. This is state functioning in a manner, which is totally undemocratic.