National Herald case: Cong, BJP engage in war of words

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, February 12

A war of wards erupted between the Congress and the BJP over the Supreme Court’s order in the National Herald case. While the Congress hailed the relief to its chief and deputy, Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi, the BJP called it a slap on their face.

Senior Supreme Court lawyer and Congress leader Kapil Sibal said he hoped the BJP would be cautious in future before levelling wild allegations on the Congress functionaries.

"The BJP gaining hope won't latch on to wrong accusations on Congress leaders in future. They have a habit of behaving like satellites, which lose trajectory and fall to the ground," said Sibal, principal counsel for the Gandhis on the case.

He said the court has set aside all inferences of cheating and fraud, which the High Court drew.

"The Supreme Court agreed with our contention that no one was cheated or defrauded. Naturally Congress leaders did not cheat petitioner Subramanian Swamy," Sibal said lauding the court’s move to exempt Gandhis from personal appearance in the case.

He said they will "expose" BJP leader Swamy's “anti-Gandhi” propaganda in the trial court, which will hear the matter on February 20.

Reacting on the order, the BJP called it a slap on the face of the Congress.

BJP national secretary Srikant Sharma said: “Kapil Sibal is a habitual offender. He is misrepresenting the case. Instead of giving the BJP gyan, he needs to do introspection.”

Sharma said instead of levelling allegations against the BJP he should recall his" zero loss" statement in the 2G case, adding that, Sibal should not forget that Sonia Gandhi was out on a bail of Rs 50,000.