Lagatar24 Desk
New Delhi: Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) spokesperson Sambit Patra on Thursday launched a blistering attack on Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi, calling them “modern-day dacoits” over the National Herald money laundering case. Speaking at a press conference in Bhubaneswar, Patra described the case as “not just corruption or theft, but blatant robbery.”
“This is the National Herald robbery case,” Patra declared, urging the media and public to stop using terms like “scam” or “corruption” and instead call it what it is — “robbery”. He questioned how a political party like Congress, which survives on public donations, could lend money like a bank.
“Can a political party function like a financial institution?”
Patra questioned the legality of the Congress party transferring funds to Young Indian Pvt. Ltd. and Associated Journals Limited (AJL). “How can a political party lend money to another entity like a bank? This is not just financial irregularity — this is a criminal enterprise,” he alleged.
ED Files Chargesheet, Court Hearing On April 25
His remarks come days after the Enforcement Directorate (ED) filed a chargesheet against Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, Congress veteran Sam Pitroda, Suman Dubey, and others under Sections 44 and 45 of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).
The case is based on a predicate offence originally filed by BJP leader Subramanian Swamy, who accused the Gandhis and their associates of criminal breach of trust and cheating under the Indian Penal Code.
The case is set to be argued at Delhi’s Rouse Avenue Court on April 25.
Political Tensions Rise As BJP Pushes Back
As the Lok Sabha elections draw nearer, BJP appears to be amplifying its offensive on the Congress’ top leadership. Patra’s remarks are being seen as part of a broader political strategy to keep the National Herald case alive in public discourse.
Meanwhile, the Congress party has consistently dismissed the allegations as “political vendetta” orchestrated by the BJP-led Centre to malign its leaders and distract from pressing issues.
