Modi targeting Oppn, we won't bow down: Sonia and Rahul
Updated
New Delhi, Dec 19 (PTI): Congress President Sonia Gandhi and her son Rahul today hit out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi accusing him of levelling "false allegations" against them and making "full use" of government agencies to "deliberately target" the Opposition.
Sonia and Rahul, who came straight to the AICC office from the court where they were granted bail in the National Herald case, asserted that they will continue to fight and "not bow down".
"Today we had appeared before the court with a clean conscience. We did what any law-abiding citizen should do. The laws of the nation applies to everyone without any discrimination. I have no doubt that the truth will come out," Sonia Gandhi told reporters.
Coming down heavily on Modi government, the Congress President said, "The present government is deliberately targeting the opposition and making full use of the state agencies to do so. Nobody is going to be scared from it. We will continue our fight."
Making a direct attack on the Prime Minister, Rahul Gandhi said, "Modiji levels false allegations and thinks that the Opposition will bow down, I and Congress party will not succumb."
Referring to the case filed by BJP leader Subramanian Swamy, Sonia Gandhi said that she was totally aware of the intention of the people behind the case.
"These people have been trying for long to target us. They will not succeed," she asserted.
Asserting that Congress will continue to fight for the poor, Rahul said, "We will not budge an inch."
The Gandhis were speaking after they were granted bail in the case based on a private criminal complaint lodged by Swamy against them of cheating, conspiracy and criminal breach of trust.
Former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said that the Congress is united in support of Sonia and Rahul. "We will fight. We will give a determined fight," he said asserting that Congress was a party that stood for certain values and it will not compromise on them.
Earlier Update
National Herald case: Sonia, Rahul appear in court, granted bail
New Delhi, Dec 19 (IANS): Congress president Sonia Gandhi and party vice president Rahul Gandhi were granted bail in the National Herald case on Saturday by a trial court here.
They appeared before Metropolitan Magistrate Loveleen in the Patiala House courts complex.
Kapil Sibal, who appeared on their behalf, told reporters that the court rejected petitioner Subramanian Swamy's plea to impose restrictions on their travel abroad.
The court fixed February 20, 2016 at 2 p.m. for the next hearing.
Sonia Gandhi and her son Rahul Gandhi left the court complex immediately thereafter.
A team of Special Protection Guard (SPG), Border Security Force, and anti-bomb squad was deployed at the Patiala House court premise here.
A large number of Congress party workers gathered at the party's headquarters to express solidarity with the two top leaders.
Sonia Gandhi had reportedly asked party leaders and supporters from other states not to throng the capital on Saturday.
Congress leaders have alleged a "political vendetta" for the National Herald cheating and misappropriation case involving the Gandhis.
"Its a political vendetta. We will fight the legal battle in accordance with law. We have complete respect for the judicial process," said Congress spokesman R.S. Surjewala.
Another Congress leader and senior advocate Abhishek Manu Shinghvi said: "We have faith in the judiciary, all legal options including bail are available. We will proceed to court in a serious and dignified manner. No reason for hype."
The court had ordered Sonia and Rahul Gandhi to appear on Saturday in connection with Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Subramanian Swamy's complaint in the National Herald case.
On June 26 last year, the trial court issued summons to the Congress leaders on Swamy's complaint about "cheating" in the acquisition of Associated Journals Ltd (AJL) by Young India Ltd (YIL), a firm in which Sonia Gandhi and her son each own a 38 percent stake.
The Delhi High Court last week dismissed the plea of the Gandhis to quash the summons issued to them by a trial court.
Earlier Report
Tight security at Patiala House Court ahead of Rahul, Sonia Gandhi's appearance
New Delhi, Dec 19 (PTI): Security has been increased at the Patiala House District Court premises in Delhi ahead of the scheduled appearance of Congress President Sonia Gandhi, her son Rahul Gandhi and others on today in connection with the National Herald case.
According to court sources, senior officials of the Special Protection Group (SPG), Delhi Police and Intelligence Bureau reviewed the security arrangements at the court premises where 16 more CCTV cameras were installed yesterday.
The sources said security personnel have discussed at length the arrangements to be made on Sunday as both Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi are SPG protectees.
The security officials have also had a meeting with the District Judge of the Patiala House courts.
The police have made elaborate security arrangements.
The sources said that shops inside the premises will remain closed today and the area near gate number two of the court, where the courtroom in which the hearing is scheduled is located, will be cordoned off with deployment of a multi-layered security cover.