Congress Launches Nationwide Protest Against ED’s Charge Sheet in National Herald Case

New Delhi: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) filed a charge sheet on April 9 in the National Herald case, naming Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, Suman Dubey, and Sam Pitroda. The charge sheet, filed under sections 3 (money laundering) and 4 (punishment) of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), has sparked widespread protests from Congress. The party announced nationwide demonstrations in response to the ED’s actions.

Congress workers staged protests at the party office in Delhi against the central government. As part of their nationwide campaign, Congress is also holding protests at ED offices across states and at district-level government offices.

Madhya Pradesh Congress President Jitendra (Jitu) Patwari condemned the charge sheet, saying, “This is an attack on Sonia Gandhi, opposition leaders, and democratic institutions. The BJP is misleading the country by spreading hatred.” BJP MP Ravi Shankar Prasad responded, “I don’t challenge their right to protest, but what exactly are they protesting? In Bihar, when the ED and CBI investigate the Laloo family’s land-for-job scam, protests erupt. Is that the model Congress has adopted?”

Security around Congress headquarters on Akbar Road in Delhi has been heightened as protests continue across the country. Maharashtra Congress Chief Harshvardhan Sapkal stated, “This is an attempt to intimidate and silence us, but Rahul Gandhi and the Gandhi family are not afraid of anyone.”

Congress has accused the Modi government of using the National Herald case as a tool for political vendetta. Congress General Secretary KC Venugopal criticized the charge sheet, calling it not just a legal process, but an organized conspiracy by the government to silence the democratic opposition.