Sonia, Rahul Gandhi stood in corner like accused, reveals Subramanian Swamy

Speaking on the sideline of the protest, Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh said the party will happily accept the court’s verdict on the case.

In a show of bravado, mother and son declared they would not be cowed down by attacks and were ready to fight it out.

“There have been several incidents which have put the Congress party on the defensive, including the National Herald case, citizenship controversy of Rahul Gandhi and the probe against the land deals of Sonia Gandhi’s son-in-law, Robert Vadra. Modi Ji talks about Congress-free India; India will never be Congress free”. “Modi teri tanashahi nahin chalegi (We won’t tolerate the Modi regime)”, was the most popular chant. Only the octogenarian ex-PM took a vehicle as the rest wound their way on foot through Lutyens streets in a battle-like formation.

He said, it was the outcome of the dictatorial mindset of the party which has been openly claiming to finish not only the Congress but entire opposition.

BJP leader Subramanian Swamy filed the case in a local court in 2012. “We will continue our agitation against the vengeful politics of the BJP, its leader Subramanian Swamy and Narendra Modi”, said Harichandan.

The former CLP leader said, the BJP had suitably rewarded Swamy as only yesterday the central government allotted a palatial bungalow to him in Delhi otherwise entitled to the ministers only. “What happened now?” He was referring to earlier reports that said the Congress leaders were considering going to jail in the hope that it would win them public sympathy.

“There is no doubt that we will lose precious time”, said a senior Delhi Congress leader.

Talking to media, Congress leaders said, “Today Soniaji and Rahulji would appear in court over National Herald case and we are here to express solidarity with them”. As the hearing proceeded, Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi stood on the left side of the magistrate while Swamy and his team remained seated. Even though the rally was peaceful, police detained many party leaders as a preventive measure.

Speaking about her experience in court, a relaxed Sonia Gandhi later told Congress Working Committee members and MPs assembled at the party office that she had felt there would be much excitement, but it turned out to be routine proceedings. “Some minor bills may get passed next week, but the Congress will still not let the GST pass; they will wait and watch until the next budget session of Parliament”, Dubey added.

But the BJP felt the heat, both on the streets of the Indian capital and in the newsroom studios where its talking heads were totally exasperated in the face of some heavy Congress onslaught.

Separately, Modi clashed with Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, head of the anti-corruption Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) after federal investigators searched the city administration’s headquarters, with Kejriwal branding the premier a “psychopath”.