ED action against Sonia, Rahul "shameful" political vendetta: DMK
Chennai (PTI): Key INDIA bloc constituent, the M K Stalin-led DMK on Sunday slammed the BJP over ED's chargesheeting top Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi in the National Herald case, calling it an "unacceptable," vendetta that was "shameful."
DMK Treasurer and its Parliamentary Party Leader, TR Baalu charged the Central BJP with "unleashing" investigating agencies, including the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on the Congress as it was opposing the saffron party on issues including the Waqf by uniting various parties.
"On behalf of the DMK, I strongly condemn the ED filing chargseheet against Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi in the National Herald case due to BJP's political vendetta," Baalu said in a party statement here.
He said the recent AICC meeting in Gujarat effectively highlighting the Central BJP's "anti-people" activities and the party workers' resurgence has rattled the BJP. He said ED carried out raids during a previous AICC session in Chattisgarh's Raipur.
A similar template was being used post Gujarat AICC meeting, he alleged.
"Congress standing firm against the Waqf (Amendment) bill and making the opposition parties vote against it has not gone down well with the BJP government. It is fearful of the Congress taking to people, the central government's anti-people initiatives and its failures. That is why the ED is circling the Congress party and has not spared its leaders Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi," Baalu added.
Unable to take on the Congress politically, the BJP government was "unleashing" ED and other agencies which was "not only disgusting but a shameful political vendetta unacceptable to anyone," he said.
The ED had recently filed a chargesheet against Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi and others before a special court in New Delhi in the National Herald case accusing them of allegedly laundering Rs 988 crore.
The prosecution complaint filed on April 9 under various sections of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) named Sonia Gandhi, a former Congress president, as the accused no 1, and her son and MP Rahul Gandhi, who is also the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, as the accused no 2.
The BJP has rejected Congress' charge of vendetta, asserting that no one has a "license to loot".
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Vartha Bharati launches Kalyana Karnataka edition, releases 23rd annual special issue in Kalaburagi
Kalaburagi: The Kalyana Karnataka edition of the Kannada daily Vartha Bharati was formally launched on Saturday at a programme held at Dr S M Pandit Rangamandir in Kalaburagi. The event also marked the release of the newspaper’s twenty-third annual special issue, a compilation of selected editorials, and the Kalyana Karnataka special supplement.
The programme was inaugurated by Karnataka Legislative Assembly Speaker U T Khader. The Kalyana Karnataka edition of Vartha Bharati was unveiled by Siddharth Varadarajan, Editor-in-Chief of The Wire.
The twenty-third annual special issue was released by multilingual actor Prakash Raj. The book compiling selected editorials of Vartha Bharati was released by B R Patil, Vice-Chairperson of the State Policy and Planning Commission and MLA from Aland. The Kalyana Karnataka special supplement was released by Rahim Khan, Minister for Municipal Administration and Haj.
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Chairperson of the State Waqf Board and Sajjada Nashin of the Khwaja Bande Nawaz Dargah, Hazrat Syed Mohammed Ali Al Husseini, and Kalaburagi South MLA Allamaprabhu Patil were present as chief guests.
Among the special invitees on the dais were Koraneshwara Mahaswamiji of the Tontadarya Anubhava Mantapa, Aland; Bishop Rev Fr Robert Miranda of Kalaburagi; Bhante Varajyothi of Anandur; social activist K Neela; farmers’ leader Chamarasa Mali Patil; DSS state convenor D G Sagar; and activist and singer Ambanna Arolikar.
Speaking on the occasion, Assembly Speaker U T Khader said Vartha Bharati had emerged as the voice of the weak and the voiceless in society and had earned the love, trust and confidence of people across the state. He said the newspaper had carved out a distinct identity in the media landscape and expressed happiness that it was now reaching the Kalyana Karnataka region. He added that Vartha Bharati had remained free from political pressures and inducements and expressed hope that it would continue to stand as a support system for the distressed.
B R Patil said running a newspaper in the present times was not easy, as the media sector had increasingly turned into an industry driven by profit. Amidst such challenges, he said, Vartha Bharati had maintained integrity, honesty and commitment throughout its twenty-three-year journey. He expressed confidence that the newspaper would continue on the same path. Referring to Kalaburagi, he noted that the region frequently witnessed agitations due to the large number of unresolved issues, and said Vartha Bharati should continue to bring the problems and suffering of the people to the attention of the government and contribute to finding solutions.
