Congress To Stage Nationwide Protest Against ED Summons to Sonia Gandhi

Another meeting on Thursday is set to see discussions regarding the party's ‘Bharat Jodo Yatra.'

Sonia Gandhi. 

(Photo: PTI)

Following a meeting on Wednesday, 13 July, Congress leaders have decided to stage a nationwide protest against the BJP-led central government on 21 July, when Congress interim president Sonia Gandhi is scheduled to appear before the Enforcement Directorate (ED), news agency ANI reported.

Another meeting has been called by the party, which will take place on Thursday, 14 July, and is set to see discussions regarding the planned ‘Bharat Jodo Yatra’ between general secretaries, state-chiefs, and PCC chiefs.

Wednesday's meeting was attended by Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge, Congress general secretary KC Venugopal, ICC treasurer Pawan Bansal, AICC general secretary Mukul Wasnik, Ajay Maken, Randeep Surjewala, Bhawar Jitendra Singh, and Rajya Sabha MP and AICC incharge of Delhi Shaktisinh Gohil, the report added.

With the monsoon session of the Parliament commencing from 18 July, Congress MPs may also take the opportunity to protest on the floor of the House.

Speaking to ANI, Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge said, "Congress President Sonia Gandhi is a tigress. She is not afraid of these things. She has seen so many things like this. She will go to the ED office and face this Government."

The ED has summoned Congress interim president Sonia Gandhi for questioning in connection with the National Herald case. Former Congress president Rahul Gandhi, Malllikarjun Kharge, and Pawan Bansal have already been questioned in the matter.

When Rahul Gandhi was questioned by the probe agency in June for more than five days, Congress workers and leaders took to the streets and protested against the ED and central government.

They also protested the “brutal” actions undertaken by Delhi Police officials, who allegedly manhandled party workers and allegedly barged into the Delhi Congress headquarters.

Fresh summons were issued to Sonia Gandhi after she could not appear before the probe agency on 8 June as she was infected and hospitalised with COVID-19.

What's the National Herald Case?

The ED had registered a case to probe alleged financial irregularities in the party-promoted group Young Indian, which owns the National Herald newspaper.

The ED has sought to record the statements of Sonia and Rahul Gandhi under criminal sections of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).

The summons to the Gandhis came after the probe agency questioned Congress leaders Mallikarjun Kharge and Pawan Bansal in relation to the case.

The questioning of the senior Congress leaders and the Gandhis is part of the ED's investigation to understand the shareholding pattern, financial transactions, and role of the promoters of Young Indian and AJL, officials had said.

The agency registered a fresh case under the criminal provisions of the PMLA after a trial court in Delhi took cognisance of an Income Tax Department probe against Young Indian Pvt Ltd on the basis of a private criminal complaint filed by BJP MP Subramanian Swamy in 2013.

(With inputs from ANI.)