Kharge Calls National Herald FIR Pure 'Political Vendetta,' Targets BJP

In a powerful and unequivocal statement, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge has absolutely lambasted the fresh First Information Report (FIR) lodged in connection with the National Herald case. He didn't mince words, squarely calling it an act of sheer 'political vendetta' by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government, specifically designed to target the venerable Gandhi family and the entire Congress party. It's a clear attempt, he suggested, to intimidate and harass the opposition, especially as national elections loom large.

Kharge's frustration was palpable. Speaking to reporters, he highlighted that this isn't some new revelation; the case has been poked and prodded extensively by various agencies, including the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and the Income Tax (IT) department, for quite some time now. "The ED and IT have investigated this for so long, and found absolutely nothing that points to money laundering or any wrongdoing," Kharge asserted, expressing bewilderment at the sudden resurgence of these allegations. It really makes one wonder, doesn't it, about the timing and motivation behind such moves?

The Congress leader didn't stop there. He delved into the heart of the matter, explaining the party's perspective on the National Herald's revival. According to Kharge, the Congress had simply extended an interest-free loan to Associated Journals Ltd. (AJL), the parent company, to keep the historic newspaper afloat. This loan was later converted into equity, a move, he emphasized, meant solely to rescue AJL from financial distress and preserve its valuable assets and journalistic legacy. There was no intent, he argued, to personally benefit anyone or illegally acquire properties. The idea was to keep a significant voice, one tied to India's freedom struggle, from fading away.

He passionately defended Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi, who are named in this fresh FIR, stressing that they are being unfairly targeted. "Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi are being unnecessarily dragged into this. It's nothing but harassment," Kharge stated with conviction. He painted a picture of a government using state machinery—be it the police, ED, or IT—to create a climate of fear and divert public attention from its own perceived failures, rather than focusing on genuine governance and addressing the real issues faced by ordinary citizens.

Indeed, the timing of this new FIR, just months before what promises to be a fiercely contested general election, raises more than a few eyebrows. Kharge seized on this, suggesting it's a deliberate tactic by the BJP to malign and weaken the Congress at a crucial political juncture. For the Congress, the National Herald isn't just a newspaper; it's a symbol of its historical roots, an institution founded by none other than Jawaharlal Nehru to champion India's secular and democratic values. To see it embroiled in such controversy, they feel, is an attack on that very legacy.

As the political temperature continues to rise, it seems clear that the National Herald case, with this latest development, is far from over. It's shaping up to be another significant flashpoint in the ongoing ideological and political battle between India's ruling and opposition parties.