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New Delhi: The Congress on Wednesday demanded the resignation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah, a day after a Delhi court refused to take cognisance of the Enforcement Directorate’s money laundering charge against Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi in the National Herald case. The opposition party accused the BJP-led government of pursuing “vendetta politics” against its leadership and warned of a nationwide mobilisation against what it called the misuse of central investigative agencies.
‘A Slap on the Face of Modi-Shah’
Addressing a press conference, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge said the court’s ruling was a stinging rebuke to the government. “After this judgment, Modi and Shah should resign. This is like a slap on their face. They should not harass people like this,” Kharge said, flanked by party leaders K C Venugopal, Abhishek Singhvi, Jairam Ramesh and Pawan Khera. “We will keep fighting them inside Parliament, outside Parliament and on the streets. The Congress will teach them a lesson,” he added.
Congress Cadre Agitated
Kharge said the party had consistently resisted what it viewed as political targeting, including holding protests when senior leaders were summoned by investigative agencies. “The entire Congress cadre is agitated and will show its strength across the country against the misuse of agencies,” said Venugopal, asserting that the party would expose the government’s vendetta politics.
‘Law Has Spoken Louder Than Noise’
Senior advocate and Congress MP Abhishek Singhvi said the court’s order had reaffirmed the rule of law. “The law has spoken louder than the noise. This case is nothing but political harassment and vendetta,” Singhvi said.
Court’s Ruling
On Tuesday, Special Judge Vishal Gogne of the Rouse Avenue Court refused to take cognisance of the ED’s prosecution complaint, holding that it was impermissible in law as the agency’s investigation was based on a private complaint filed by BJP leader Subramanian Swamy and not on an FIR relating to a scheduled offence under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act.
The court observed that it would be premature and imprudent to examine the merits of the allegations when the statutory foundation for the case itself was absent. “Other arguments possibly live to fight another day,” the court noted.
ED May Appeal
ED officials said the agency may challenge the order after seeking legal opinion from law officers, including Solicitor General Tushar Mehta. The ED has alleged that Sonia and Rahul Gandhi, along with late Congress leaders Motilal Vora and Oscar Fernandes, and others, conspired to illegally acquire properties worth around Rs 2,000 crore belonging to Associated Journals Limited, the publisher of National Herald.
Congress Claims Vindication
Reacting to the ruling, the Congress said the court had exposed the “illegality and mala fide intent” of the Modi government. “The ED’s proceedings against our leadership have been found completely illegal. This politically motivated prosecution stands exposed before the people of India,” the party said in a statement. The issue is likely to remain a major flashpoint between the government and the opposition both inside and outside Parliament in the days ahead.
