The National Herald case has been found as a good weapon for the ruling BRS party in the Telangana assembly elections which are going on like a war between BRS, BJP and Congress. BRS has already given first page ads in all dailies saying that Congress have looted Rs 48 lakh crores during the “Scamgress” regime. The Congress leaders complained to the Central Election Commission that the reputation of their party had been damaged with BRS party’s “Scamgress” advertisements.
BRS chief and state Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao is making many criticisms as a counter to the Congress campaign of bringing Indiramma Rajyam in the state. He is repeatedly accusing the Congress of doing nothing but corruption and irregularities in united Andhra Pradesh. As polling (Novermber 30) approaches, the onslaught of criticism between the two parties has increased. Meanwhile, ED confiscation of properties of Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi in the National Herald case has been found as a ready-made weapon for BRS election campaign.
The issue of not arresting BRS MLC Kavitha in the Delhi liquor case has become a political weapon for the Congress in the Telangana. The Congress has repeatedly accused the BJP government at the Centre of not arresting Kavitha because there is a secret agreement between the BRS and the BJP. At the time crucial assembly elections, the Congress has turned this issue in their favor.
But BRS leaders are giving a very intelligent answer to the questions about Kavitha’s role in Delhi liquor scam. BRS leaders are questioning whether Sonia and Rahul, who faced the ED investigation in the National Herald case, were not arrested, and whether there is a secret agreement between the BJP and the Congress.
Congress cries foul as ED attaches properties:
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has disclosed that assets worth Rs.751.90 crore have been attached in the money laundering case related to the National Herald daily. Associated Journals Limited, Young Indian Pvt Ltd has been served interim orders under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act.
The properties attached by the ED include the National Herald buildings in Delhi and Mumbai and Nehru Bhavan in Lucknow. The ED revealed that the investigation revealed that Associate Journals Limited (AJL) has assets worth Rs 661.59 crore in the cities of Delhi, Mumbai and Lucknow.
ED has said that Young Indian Limited has Rs.90.21 crore in the form of equity shares in AJL. In a money laundering case investigated under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002, the ED has issued interim orders regarding the attachment of assets worth Rs.751.90 crore.
On the other hand, the Enforcement Directorate, which has already interrogated Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi along with current Congress President Mallikarjuna Kharge and senior leader Pawan Kumar Bansal in the money laundering case related to the National Herald, has also recorded their statements.
Petty vendetta tactics amid polls; says Congress:
Congress says that there is no evidence of money laundering or monetary exchange in the case. Associated Journals Limited (AJL) is the publisher of National Herald daily. Young Indian Private Limited, which is promoted by Sonia Gandhi, Rahul and several Congress leaders, is the owner of the company. The ED is investigating the allegations of financial irregularities in Young Indian. It is known that BJP leader Subramanya Swamy had complained in 2003 that Sonia, Rahul and others had conspired by paying only Rs.50 lakhs to the Congress to collect the Rs.90.25 crore owed by AJL.
AICC Chief Mallikarjun Kharge said the ED action was a "clear indication of BJP's panic" and "staring at a defeat" in Assembly polls, it "feels compelled to misuse the agencies". He said the pattern of misuse of agencies during elections is "not new" and "stands fully exposed".
