BJP indulging in vendetta politics: Congress

Believed to have an ace up his sleeve at all times, BJP leader and the petitioner in the National Herald case Subramanian Swamy refused to be bogged down by the Patiala House court’s decision to grant bail to Sonia and Rahul Gandhi today.

Political drama and speculation over the past few days, on whether Congress president Sonia Gandhi and her son Rahul would not seek bail and rather go to jail, ended as the leaders walked out of the court amidst cheering by loyalists and supporters.

The day started with Congress leader Digvijaya Singh posting a series of tweets accusing the BJP of launching a “sustained vilification campaign” against Nehruvian ideology.

Swamy dismissed allegations that he was pursuing the case on the orders of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leadership.

“The accused are reputed persons having deep political grassroots and there is no apprehension that they will flee”, the magistrate noted.

Former prime minister Manmohan Singh said the Congress is united in support of Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi. The magistrate made it clear that no exemption from personal appearance will be granted to any accused for the next date of hearing.

The Gandhis deny any wrongdoing and on Saturday said they would not be deterred by attempts to frame them. “The court was kind enough to grant bail without conditions except for furnishing security in the sum of Rs.50,000 on behalf of each of the accused which were furnished”, Sibal told reporters after the hearing. “We will continue to struggle for the poor”, Rahul said, adding that Modi’s dream of “a Congress-free India will not materialise”.

Seizing on the presence of Swamy, a known Congress-baiter with BJP links, as complainant, and an implacable rival in Modi as the government head, the lead opposition obviously finds it convenient to sell the “vendetta” card. Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Ghulam Nabi Azad called it “an award” for dragging the Congress leadership to court.

If the buildup had happened over a fortnight, the court proceedings were over in a matter of five minutes. “This is a victory for democracy”, Swamy told media outside the court premises.

The Patiala District Court Complex was blanketed by security, and the Gandhis themselves came with their posse of bodyguards.

The court had initially suggested February 13, but the lawyers for the Congress leaders chose February 20 with an eye on the court appearance being closer to the Budget session of Parliament. “Modiji levels false allegations against and thinks that the Opposition would bow down before him”, he said.

Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi arrive at the AICC HQ after appearing at the Patial House court in New Delhi o saturday.

They are doing so only to divert people’s attention from the Herald case, the Union Minister said.