Photo Feature: Congress searches for revival in National Herald stand off

The show of strength on the part of the Congress on December 19

Congress leaders and workers noisily converged in big numbers at party office and Patiala House on December 19, to express solidarity with the party president, Sonia Gandhi and her son, Rahul, who were responding to summons from Delhi High Court for alleged financial irregularities involved in the dodgy acquisition of the party journal National Herald Newspaper and it’s assets by their company the ‘Young Indian’.

The case filed in 2012 by Senior BJP leader Subramanian Swamy,  triggered a storm as this is the first time the Gandhi’s have been put in the dock. Ever since the Gandhi’s were summoned, the party has not allowed parliament (Rajya Sabha) to functioning, alleging political vendetta. In turn there have been major reforms and bills that have been held hostage by them.

Summoning of the Gandhis by the Court is being seen as a full frontal attack on the opposition by the government. “Non-BJP rules states, in the past few months, have seen a series of accusations, and interference by the central government. This incident shows the BJP’s vendetta politics and their intention to manipulate agencies, to serve their political purposes,” said Congress MP, Gaurav Gogoi, to Hardnews.  

The Grand Old Party hopes to galvanise its supporters through protests in different parts of the country. Rahul Gandhi, before speaking to the press met all the party workers who came to agitate at the party headquarter. Whether this will help the Congress revive its fortunes is still to be seen.

What is clear though is that a united opposition seems to be emerging to counter the ruling BJP in parliament and outside.