National Herald case: Cong activists stage protest, try to march to PM residence

New Delhi, Dec 8: Scores of Congress activists today staged a protest and tried to take out a march from Teen Murti Bhavan to the Prime Minister's official residence, accusing the BJP-led Centre of pursuing politics of "vendetta" in the National Herald case to "malign" the image of the party and its top leaders.

Activists of Delhi Congress and the party's youth and women wings tried to march towards Prime Minister's official residence on 7 Race Course Road, raising slogans in support of their leaders and slamming BJP, but were stopped by policemen, deployed there in large number.

Delhi Congress president Ajay Maken accused the BJP-led NDA government of following "vendetta politics" to "scare" the party.

"The government is following a set pattern in targeting Congress leaders under its vendetta politics. Previously P Chidambaram and Virbhadra Singh were attacked and now they are trying to malign the image of our top leaders," Maken said, adding the party will "resolutely" oppose such moves.

"We will not allow BJP to pursue political vendetta. You will see a series of such protests throughout the country because the people will stand by the Congress as they know whatever BJP is doing is political vendetta," said Shobha Oza, Mahila Congress president.

Youth Congress president Amrinder Singh Raja said that "revenge politics" was being pursued by the BJP after Narendra Modi became Prime Minister.

"As soon as Narendra Modi became PM, they have targeted Congress leaders including Rahul Gandhi. We are protesting against this vendetta politics," Raja said.

A local court today gave Congress President Sonia Gandhi, her son Rahul Gandhi and four others, accused in the National Herald case, exemption from personal appearance but asked them to be present on December 19 when the case will be heard.

The Delhi High Court had yesterday dismissed the plea of the Gandhis and others for quashing of summons in the Herald case.

In the wake of the development, Congress members today paralysed Parliament protesting against alleged "vendetta politics" leading to repeated adjournments in Lok Sabha as well as Rajya Sabha.

PTI