Kalaburagi (Karnataka) [India], April 16 : Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar on Wednesday lashed out at the ED over the charges against Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, and others in the National Herald case and stated that it was a great injustice, further calling it a political vendetta.
Speaking to the media, the Deputy CM said, "Whatever the ED has submitted is not proper. It is a great injustice; in no way has the Gandhi family benefitted from it. It is the property of the Congress party. They are the Head of the party; they were the presidents of the party...It is only a political vendetta."
Meanwhile, Congress leader Sachin Pilot stated that the ED complaint was an attempt to tarnish Sonia Gandhi's image.
He further stated that this complaint was the BJP government's targeted modus operandi, which aimed at demoralising and defaming opponents by misusing the agencies.
"The whole country knows that ED and CBI are political tools used by the government of India. Sonia Gandhi's life is in the public domain; this is an attempt to tarnish her image. Whatever facts are there, they will come out. I have full faith in the judiciary... This is the targeted modus operandi of the BJP government, aimed at demoralising and defaming the opponents by misusing the agencies. There is no give-and-take or anything in this entire episode," Pilot said, speaking to ANI.
Meanwhile, Congress workers protesting against the Central government and central agencies outside the party's office were detained by the police.
The Congress Party has launched a massive protest against the Central government and investigative agencies. The protest follows the ED filing a chargesheet against Congress leaders Rahul and Sonia Gandhi in connection with the National Herald.
Protests have been organised across the country, with several prominent leaders at the forefront.