Sarma dares Gandhis to prove innocence in Herald case

Guwahati: Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma said it is time for Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi to prove their innocence before the court regarding the National Herald case. He also accused the Gandhis of turning a Rs 50 lakh firm into a Rs 2,000 crore empire.

Congress workers and leaders staged a protest in Guwahati by gheraoing the ED office on Wednesday after the enforcement agency filed a charge sheet against Sonia, Rahul, and others in the National Herald money laundering case. About 100 people were arrested in the city and later released.

"Rahul always vows to fight corruption. Now both mother and son should appear before the court. They should answer the charge sheet of the ED and they should prove themselves innocent," Sarma said while talking to the media in Guwahati on Wednesday. He said while the two Congress leaders often level corruption charges against others, now when they are accused and have been charge-sheeted, it is their time to prove innocence.

The controversy centres on the acquisition of Associated Journals Limited (AJL), which published the National Herald newspaper, by Young Indian Limited (YIL), a firm linked to the Gandhi family. Reportedly, the circumstances surrounding this transaction have raised questions. "The company had a capital of Rs 50 lakh. After the company was taken over by the Gandhi family fraudulently, suddenly its net worth increased to Rs 2,000 crore. Profit is prohibited in this type of company, but they were making a profit," Sarma said, adding, even Adani and Ambani do not know of such a ‘fast-growing business model'.

About 100 Congress leaders, including state PCC chief Bhupen Borah and MP Pradyut Bordoloi, were arrested by police under Section 170 of BNSS. "It was a preventive arrest and later all of them were released," a senior police officer said.

"The action of the Enforcement Directorate against our leaders — Sonia Gandhi Ji, Rahul Gandhi Ji, and others are not isolated. They are part of a larger pattern of political vendetta by the BJP govt, aimed at silencing those who speak the truth," Borah said.