Sonia Gandhi Questioned, Daughter Priyanka To Wait For Her: 10 Points

The BJP criticised the Congress’ protests as its “duragrah” (obstinate demand) for protecting the Gandhi family.

New Delhi: Sonia Gandhi, 75, was accompanied by her children as she arrived at the Enforcement Directorate office a little after noon for questioning in an alleged money laundering case to the National Herald newspaper.

Here are the top 10 updates on this story:

1. Sonia Gandhi was escorted by her Z+ category CRPF security cover. Mrs Gandhi, who was diagnosed with Covid recently, was seen wearing a mask and was accompanied by her children Rahul and Priyanka Gandhi.
2. The party has slammed the agency’s action and called it a “political vendetta”. Carrying large banners saying “stop misuse of ED”, Congress leaders today held a march inside the Parliament complex in a show of strength against the Enforcement Directorate. Large number of demonstrations are also being held across the country.
3. “Prime Minister forgets that’s his idea of Congress is based on leaders they have taken from us. They have to reborn several times to understand what Congress party is, what Gandhi family is,” the party said in a press conference called this morning.
4. The BJP criticised the Congress’ protests as its “duragrah” (obstinate demand) for protecting the Gandhi family. BJP leader Ravi Shankar Prasad noted that Sonia Gandhi and her son Rahul’s plea to quash the FIR has been dismissed by every court, including the Supreme Court.
5. “The Congress has become a pocket organisation of a family, and now its assets are also being pocketed by the family,” he alleged, attacking the Gandhis. Both are out on bail in the case, he told reporters.
6. Earlier today, a meeting chaired by the Congress to discuss “relentless political vendetta” by the Centre was attended by almost 13 opposition parties. A statement released by like-minded opposition parties has condemned the BJP-led Centre’s “misuse” of investigating agencies. Arvind Kejriwal’s AAP has also given a zero-hour notice over “misuse of central investigation agencies by the ruling government”.
7. Mrs Gandhi’s wuestoning will be carried out by five officers led by woman Additional Director, NDTV has learnt. Sources in the Enforcement Directorate also said that the Congress chief would be allowed to rest if she gets tired during her questioning.
8. The Congress chief appeared after the third summon. She sought exemption on earlier dates of June 8 and June 23 after she contracted coronavirus infection.
9. The ED has been investigating the role of the Gandhis in the case which involves the Young Indian’s takeover of AJL (Associated Journals Limited), the company which ran the National Herald newspaper.
10. Founded by Mr Gandhi’s grandfather and the country’s first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru, the newspaper was a Congress mouthpiece that later went entirely online.