India’s Gandhis given bail in graft case

Congress president Sonia Gandhi and vice-president Rahul Gandhi set the tone for a lengthy political battle with the Bharatiya Janata Party on Saturday, dropping in at the party headquarters on Akbar Road after being granted bail by a Patiala House court in the National Herald case.

BJP leader Subramanian Swamy filed the case in a local court in 2012.

It would be pertinent to note here that the actual “victim” in this case is the Nation and not the leaders of the “notional” Party known as Congress. Another aspect which needs a very serious debate is whether during court proceedings a very large number of gathering can be allowed which may also result in law and order problems. A senior leader conceded that since the Congress leaders had opted not to apply for exemption from appearance, another such public show of support could be expected on February 20, the next date of hearing. Sam Pitroda, yet another accused, was granted exemption from personal appearance today on medical grounds. Ajay Maken took surety for Motilal Vora, Mallikarjun Kharge took surety for Suman Dubey and Ghulam Nabi Azad took surety for Oscar Fernandes. Resources say they may be probable to appeal before supreme court docket and are stay their trial within the case.

It is will be more fruitful to work together for the benefit of the people and development, he said.

“I will win this case in 2016, Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi and others will be sent to prison”.

On December 7 the Delhi High Court turned down a plea by the Gandhis to quash the latest summons and exempt them from appearing in person.

Rahul’s grandmother, Indira Gandhi, was prime minister when she was gunned down in 1984 by her Sikh bodyguards. The Magistrate said the Congress leaders enjoyed responsible position in the society and were public functionaries, so no restrictions were required.

Shortly after returning from the court, both the Gandhis accused Modi of seeking to bend his opponents and said they were not afraid and will fight back.

Earlier, the Gandhis walked up to the court room, accompanied by Priyanka Vadra, former prime minister Manmohan Singh and other senior leaders as party workers outside the court shouted slogans in their support.

The newspaper ceased publishing in 2008 and the company that ran it, Associated Journals Limited, was converted into a real estate firm.

“National Herald is yours”.

At one point, Sonia Gandhi, clad in a maroon saree, even fell a step behind Rahul while trying to oblige a call from photographers.

In 1938 during the freedom struggle, Jawaharlal Nehru, who went on to become independent India’s first prime minister, started the National Herald newspaper.

The Parliamentary Affairs Minister criticised Congress for stalling important Bills in the Rajya Sabha and said the Opposition party’s action was against the interests of the country. “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”, he told reporters after the hearing.