“Modi-ji makes false allegations and he thinks the Opposition will bend”.
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While rejecting the plea of Gandhis for quashing of the summons against them, Justice Gaur had observed: “After having considered the entire case in its proper perspective, this court finds no hesitation to put it on record that the modus operandi adopted by petitioners in taking control of Associated Journals Ltd (AJL) via special goal vehicle i.e. Young India Ltd (YIL), particularly, when the main persons in Congress Party, AJL and YIL are the same, evidences a criminal intent”.
The Italian-born Sonia Gandhi has led the party since 1998.
“We do not want to comment on what happened inside the court but we will like to speak on comments made and drama done outside”. We did what any law-abiding citizen should do. The laws of the nation apply to everyone without any discrimination.
“We have confidence in the country’s judiciary and the Constitution”, said Azad.
The Gandhis were granted bail on a personal bond of 50,000 rupees ($754) each, their lawyers said, with Sonia s daughter Priyanka Gandhi and former defence minister A.K. Antony providing sureties. “I do not have slightest doubt that the truth will come out”, she said, and also made a reference to her mother-in-law Indira Gandhi who had fought cases against her and returned to power in 1980.
The Gandhis, who stand accused of cheating and misappropriation of funds in the purchase of a defunct newspaper four years ago, spent just six minutes in the Delhi metropolitan court.
The courtroom will subsequent hear the case on February 20.
Seizing the opportunity, the Congress leadership has turned the legal battle into a political one accusing PM Modi of deliberatley targeting the Opposition and making full use of the state agencies to do so. “The Enforcement Directorate had repealed the same case in the past”, said Bhagora while addressing party workers at Kutchery Chowk, where the protest continued for three hours. The Congress has, however, assured the government that it will allow the passage of the Prevention of Atrocities against Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes Bill in the Rajya Sabha next week.
Swamy also took a dig at Rahul Gandhi when asked why he sought imposition of travel restrictions over the accused, something that the court did not accept. “These people have a habit of disappearing”, he said.
Senior Congress leader Kapil Sibal said the court granted bail to party chief Sonia and vice president Rahul without any conditions after a brief hearing.
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The mother-son duo, scions of the famous Gandhi-Nehru dynasty, arrived at the capital s Patiala trial court accompanied by ex-premier Manmohan Singh and other senior Congress leaders, underscoring the intensely politicised nature of the case.
