*Paromita Das
The Congress party’s former president and Wayanad MP Rahul Gandhi is scheduled to appear before the Enforcement Directorate on June 13 in connection with the National Herald case. According to sources, all GOP Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha MPs will travel to Delhi on June 13 and walk with Rahul Gandhi to the ED’s office. Furthermore, on June 9, General Secretary (Organization) will meet with all state chiefs and general secretaries to plan a nationwide protest against what the Congress refers to as “political victimisation.”
This is not the first time something like this has happened. When Sonia and Rahul Gandhi were summoned by a lower court in the Herald case earlier in December 2015, the entire galaxy of top Congress leaders took to the streets to protest and show solidarity with the party’s first family. However, this display of strength raises several troubling questions. The most important question is whether it is morally and ethically correct for Rahul Gandhi to exert political pressure on the country’s premier investigative agency, the ED.
According to BJP sources, Congress’ attempt does not reflect well on the grand old party. They are attempting to send the message that they are above the law and cannot be touched. Congress’ charge of a “political witch hunt” falls flat. One example they provide is Prime Minister Narendra Modi. They claim that when Narendra Modi was Gujarat’s chief minister and was summoned for questioning by the special investigating team (SIT) probing the aftermath of the Godhra riots, he went without all the paraphernalia. Aside from the top leaders, no BJP employee was summoned anywhere near the SIT office.
Modi was a popular chief minister, but he never used his position to intimidate officials who were doing their jobs. His action, then, demonstrated his adherence to the rule of law.
When Modi emerged from the SIT office after 9 hours of questioning, he told the assembled media that the Constitution and the law of the land were supreme, and that as a citizen and the chief minister, he was bound by the law. “No one is above the law, and today my behaviour and conduct have put a full stop to all those spreading canards against me,” Modi said. I hope vested interests stop spreading rumors now.
This SIT was formed on the order of the Supreme Court, and there is not a single officer from Gujarat on the team that questioned me. They are carrying out the Supreme Court’s orders. If they want me to come back, I will, but I hope it is done today.”
According to BJP sources, the Congress has been carrying out PM Modi’s “witch hunt” for years. “This is well known to everyone, but never once did Modi, the then Gujarat Chief Minister, berate or threaten the Enforcement Directorate or any other agency,” they said. The difference is too noticeable to ignore.” According to BJP leaders, one thing is clear: the two leaders – Modi and Rahul Gandhi – not only differ in their working styles, but also in how they uphold the majesty of the law.
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