Congress challenges Swamy's charges against Gandhis
By IANS - NEW DELHI / SHIMLA
02nd November 2012 06:53 PM
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Swamy added that he would wait for a reply from Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on the issue before deciding his next course. | PTI/File
The allegations by Janata Party chief Subramanian Swamy of "wrongdoing" against Congress president Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi vis-a-vis the takeover of Herald House in Delhi escalated into political battle Friday.
BJP leader Arun Jaitley joined Swamy in asking the Congress to come clear if it had given a loan of Rs.90 crore to the company floated by the Gandhis. The Congress challenged Swamy to prove his allegations.
Swamy said his charges had not been answered even as Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi's office Thursday termed the allegations as "utterly false, entirely baseless and defamatory".
External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid and Information and Broadcasting Minister Manish Tewari dismissed allegations against Sonia and Rahul Gandhi.
"The charges are baseless. The only intent behind them seems to be to tar people with a dark brush," Tewari said.
Swamy told a press conference Friday that a company Young Indian, allegedly floated by the two Gandhis, had done a "sham and bogus" deal to "grab the Rs.1,600 crore worth Herald House" and other properties of the group.
Young Indian, he had said, acquired Associated Journals Pvt Ltd and became owner of the National Herald and Qaumi Awaz and all high value real estate in Delhi and Uttar Pradesh belonging to the group.
Swamy had also alleged that AJPL had obtained an unsecured, zero-interest loan of "Rs.90 plus crore" from the Congress.
Jaitley, who was in Shimla on the last day of campaigning in the hill state, said the board of directors of AJPL had passed a resolution Feb 26, 2011, saying the Congress had given a loan of Rs.90 crore to the company floated by the Gandhis.
He said the Congress must clarify whether the loan has been actually given or not. "It (giving loan) is a gross irregularity as exemption from income tax to the donors and political parties were given as incentives for transparent functioning of political parties," the BJP leader said.
In the capital, Congress spokesperson P.C. Chacko challenged Swamy to prove his allegations of wrongdoing against the Gandhis. "We don't take him (Swamy) seriously. We are not bound to answer the bland charges. It is for Swamy to go to the court if he feels any income tax law has been violated," Chacko said.
"We want to see whether Swamy will sue the Congress leaders," he said. "We are ready to face it legally," Chacko added.
Chacko said the letter by Rahul Gandhi's office to Swamy amounted to legal notice.
While Rahul Gandhi's office had conveyed commitment to pursue legal action against Swamy, Chacko seemed to emphasise it was for the Janata Party leader to prove his charges.
Khushid said: "There is absolutely no basis to these allegations. Companies are constantly making amendments in their constitution. In this case, it's a non-profit making company. Rather, it should be seen as an example of good governance," Khurshid said.
Swamy, meanwhile, kept up his attack on the Gandhis and said Rahul Gandhi had answered "not one" of his allegations. Speaking to Times Now, Swamy said he had written to both prime minister Manmohan Singh and Chief Election Commissioner V.S. Sampath and would wait for their replies on his allegations.
Swamy said if he does not get a reply to his letter from prime minister in two to three weeks, he "will certainly send a reminder".
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Comments(10)
We need to seriously ponder as to why almost everyone in the country is corrupt.There is a total absence of moral values in our epics that justifies anything to achieve the goals.With no emphasis on charity we are race who are so selfish. Hardly anyone except from this subcontinent accept us. The Hindu belief that sharing the booty with their favorite deity in Tirupati/Shirdi would absolve them from all the sins has contributed creating a nation without character. The rich business class has no concern for fellow human being. It is not that political leaders alone are corrupt. How many of the bureaucrats, police officers, businessmen,auto/ taxi drivers or gods/ demigods are honest? The surprising part is people in this subcontinent who follow other religions like Islam/Christianity also have been influenced by these ideology of “achievement” .and live against their scriptures. Most of them are Indianised in this aspect. No wonder Swamy's charge could be true also. Krishnan Periye
Posted by Krishnan Periye at 11/02/2012 19:31 Reply to this Report abuse
You have not studied our scriptures and epics properly. Please study them under guidance of a Guru. In spite of the corruption and misdeeds that go on at political and administration, what actually drives the country is due to the honest efforts of the rest of the people. Such criminals exist in all countries. While most of countries challenge these criminals and bring them to justice, here in India, the contorted criminals escape through the loopholes in the legal system. While in China, a corrupt person will be sent to gallows, in India they will be patronized by one party or the other and left to enjoy bail or at least First Class comforts in the jails. While a terrorist arrested in USA, for just planning a terrorist attact, will be jailed for 17 years, in India, a convicted terrorist will be fed on Biriyani and First class comforts. Why blame the scriptures for this ? Individually we try to be morally upright, but collectively achieve ZERO !!
Posted by Jay at 11/02/2012 21:04 Reply to this Report abuse
No disputing the despicable corruption in the sub-continental social attitudes as opposed to the Hindu dharmic ethos, even a cursory reading of the Koran and the Torah belie the assumption that the scriptural values of Islam/Christianity are personification of exactitude. The apathy of the Hindu intellectualism lies in its ignorance of the religious ethos of the Semitic faiths of Judaism, the Christianity and the Islam.
Posted by BS Murthy at 11/02/2012 21:09 Reply to this Report abuse
No need to take lessons from cassocked goons or marxist lumpens.m Which desert cult has spawned even Kings to offer their personal chariot to a creeper (Pari). Or one to offer his personal shield knowingly when he knew it would mean death (Karnan). The very fact 1/3 of TN lands belong to Temples shows the munificence of the average Indian. The legend of Angarai Subbaiyer extolled by the then British collector may never be known to lumpens or goons of the cult. Forget these sewage inspectors ( term used by MK Gandhi). The legend of Hindu Dharmavans is too huge. The fact that Dharmam has no equivalent in any other alien language itself is a clincher (Idiots who think charity is a synonym need pity)
Posted by Venkat at 11/04/2012 17:54 Reply to this Report abuse
The Hindu religion does not believe or teach that all sins can be wiped out, by monetary donations to temples. On the other hand, according to its logical Karma theory, one cannot escape the result of one's misdeeds and has to undergo the punishment in proportion to the sin committed. Of course, as the great philosopher-statesman, Rajagopalachari put it, there is provision for God's grace in Hinduism; but, only to those who realize their sins, are resolved not to repeat them and sincerely ask forgiveness of the Lord, which will also only help mitigate the punishment- the capacity to bear the punishment - but not avoidance of punishment.
Posted by S.Raguraman at 11/02/2012 21:10 Reply to this Report abuse
correct. A hindu has to follow dharma and accrue krma, thru te rbirths the karma must be resolved by oneself. Giving money to a mandir won fetch any karma at all. Just satisfaction to onself. A gratification. All those who are usurping the public funds are going to face music in rebirths. No shortcuts in hinduism unlike the abrahamic paths wherein you will be forgiven quickly on repentence. Salman kurshid pitching in on someone elses corruption charges, that says a lot, doesnt it. Thorough investigaion must be carried out, WOW Gandhis maja lelo!!
Posted by suma usa at 11/03/2012 00:19 Reply to this Report abuse
I wish Subramanian Swamy all success in his efforts to expose the alleged shady deals of Gandhi family.The generally prevalent corruption is really disturbing as shown by the comments here.Corruption is nothing but corruption of the mind of individuals and as such greater responsibilty lies on the people who groom the individuals like parents,teachers,peer groups et al.Gods also have not let down homo sapiens and their chosen godmen have tried their best to inculcate righteous living in the believers.Consider this: money or money's worth is valuable only to a sane person and not to one who is insane. Who then is the culprit ? Availing anything to the extent necessary is not corruption but hoarding may be readily conceded as corruption.The saying is " set right the Man, the world will be alright ".Hence any measure to penalise corrupt people should go along measures to raise a " sane society " discussed by Pitrim A Sorokin. Failing which the weeds of the society will continue growing.
Posted by G.Rajaram. at 11/02/2012 23:25 Reply to this Report abuse
Lord Diggy is yet to open his mouth. In the usual style manishji has already answered tangentially. First day rahul was in interested in suing swami and the next day the congress party challenges swamy to go to court. swami has already stated that after getting the replies for his letter from PM and CEC, he will pursue further. Now the coterie of congress is trying to put up a show of fight with card board swords as in cinema. the back ground music is given by the congress coterie. Unfortunate spineless of congress coterie including manish, sibal, diggy ,etc
Posted by ganesan.r at 11/03/2012 05:02 Reply to this Report abuse
It is distressing to once again seeing Hindu religion being blamed for the rot in our present day society. Chapter 16 of the Baghavad Gita gives a detailed list of divine qualities to be embraced, and a list of demonic qualities to be shunned at all costs. The Baghvad Gita itself is a summary of the original authoritative scriptures - the Upanishads. Gems like Satyameva Jayethe, Mathrude Bhava, Pithrude Bhava, Acharyade Bhave, Aditide Bhava, Satyam Vadha, Dharmam Chara,Shraddaya Deyam, are all injunctions from the Upanishads. While uninformed statements from the ignorant is best ignored, nevertheless, it is hurtful for those who know better.
Posted by V K Raghavan at 11/03/2012 07:05 Reply to this Report abuse
The essence of Gita itself is fight of Dharma against Adharma which everyone would agree. But the message is loud and clear that for fighting Adharma you could chose the path of Adharma, which Krishna did. There is no point in telling that somewhere in the scripture the good morals are mentioned like the expiry date of perishable goods -mostly invisible. The essence of Gita is undebatable- End justifies means. Let us be honest Mr Raghavan Krishnan Periye
Posted by Krishnan Periye at 11/04/2012 09:15 Reply to this Report abuse