Prime Minister Narendra Modi wished Congress president Sonia Gandhi a happy birthday early today morning. She also received a call from parliamentary affairs minister Venkaiah Naidu, as the BJP-led government attempts damage control a day after a combative Congress stalled parliament alleging a “political vendetta” in the National Herald case.
“On her birthday, greetings to Congress President Smt. Sonia Gandhi. May Almighty bless her with long life & good health,” PM Modi tweeted.
On her birthday, greetings to Congress President Smt. Sonia Gandhi. May Almighty bless her with long life & good health.
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) December 9, 2015
Sonia Gandhi, who turns 69 today, was unusually aggressive yesterday as she told NDTV, “I was asked in the morning by your colleague if I was afraid. I replied that I am the daughter-in-law of Mrs Indira Gandhi and I am not afraid of anybody or anything.”
The Congress president and her son Rahul Gandhi have been asked to appear in a Delhi court to face allegations that they illegally acquired property worth Rs. 5,000 crore belonging to the National Herald newspaper.
The petitioner in the case is the BJP’s Subramanian Swamy, who has accused the Congress leaders of cheating.
A furious Congress blocked all work in both houses of Parliament on Tuesday to protest against what it calls “persecution” of its leaders by a member of the ruling party.
Rahul Gandhi said he “absolutely saw political vendetta” in the case. “This is the way the union government tries to silence me. It will not happen and I will continue to ask questions and put pressure on the government,” the Congress Vice President said in Puducherry yesterday.
The government has denied any role in the case and accused the Congress of mixing up a court decision with politics. “A private complaint was lodged. The government had nothing to do with it. The High Court has dismissed their case and asked them to go and face trial. Nobody in this country has immunity from law. They can challenge the orders in a higher court or face proceedings,” said Finance Minister Arun Jaitley.
The government’s immediate worry is that the Congress can stall important legislation, including the key reform Goods and Services Tax that it must push through Parliament in the winter session.
The session ends on December 23 and the government can ill-afford any more work days washed out like Tuesday was.