Jaipur (Rajasthan) [India], April 16: Rajasthan Minister Jogaram Patel has launched a sharp attack on the Congress party, accusing it of having a long-standing history of corruption. Referring to the coal scam as one of many, Patel stated that the Congress has been at the center of numerous financial controversies over the years.
Patel’s remarks follow the Enforcement Directorate’s (ED) recent filing of a chargesheet against senior Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi in the National Herald case. The chargesheet, submitted to Delhi’s Rouse Avenue Court, also names Sam Pitroda, Suman Dubey, and several companies associated with the Gandhis.
“Congress has a history of scams. From the coal scam to many others, their name has been involved. The ED has been investigating the National Herald case for a long time, collecting records and documents,” Patel told ANI. He defended the ED’s investigation and criticized the Congress party for opposing the chargesheet, stating that their reaction indicates an attempt to shield wrongdoing.
“If the ED, after a long and thorough investigation, presents a chargesheet in court and Congress protests it, then it shows they are trying to cover up the scam. They should trust the judiciary; only those who don’t have faith in the legal process react this way,” Patel added.
In response to the ED’s action, the Congress Party has launched large-scale protests across the country, accusing the central government of using investigative agencies for political purposes. Several senior leaders were detained in Delhi as they tried to cross police barricades near the Congress headquarters.
Congress leader Amit Chavda labeled the ED’s move as politically driven. “This is an attempt to divert public attention from pressing national issues and intimidate the opposition,” he said. Congress MP Imran Pratapgarhi echoed the sentiment, suggesting that the chargesheet was strategically timed as the BJP fears electoral losses in states like Bihar and Assam.
“You can see the pattern. As Rahul Gandhi becomes active in Gujarat, the ED springs into action. This is purely to harass the opposition,” said Pratapgarhi. “But the BJP forgets—this is the Gandhi family, known for their sacrifices for the nation.”
Meanwhile, senior Congress leader Sachin Pilot reiterated the party’s stance that the case is politically motivated. “We trust the judicial system and will fight it legally. But the way this has been handled clearly shows an intention to stifle the voice of dissent,” he stated.
The ED’s prosecution complaint has been listed for a hearing on cognisance in the Delhi Rouse Avenue Court on April 25. In the meantime, the Congress is set to hold nationwide protests outside ED offices across districts on Wednesday, targeting what it calls the BJP-led government’s misuse of institutions.
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