Sonia Gandhi appears before ED for second round of questioning in National Herald case

New Delhi, July 26

Congress interim president Sonia Gandhi appeared on Tuesday before the Enforcement Directorate (ED) for the second round of questioning in connection with a money laundering case linked to the National Herald case, as Congress the opposition party is hosting a nationwide protest against the move.

Calling it a ‘murder of democracy’, AICC general secretary Ajay Maken said the party leaders and workers have been “denied permission to hold a peaceful protest” at “Gandhi Samadhi (Raj Ghat)” by the Delhi Police and “they have barricaded our office in such way that none our workers are able to reach here”.

Maken, addressing a press conference at AICC headquarters, said, “It is the same BJP, which held a ‘dance party’ at Raj Ghat and now they are denying permission to us to hold peaceful protests till our leader leaves the ED office”.

The Congress leader informed that the party has planned widespread protests inside and outside Parliament. “Congress workers will hold dharna and protest rallies in all the state capitals. Leaders are chalking out protest plans within the Parliament,” he added.

Maken said, “Today Sonia Ji and Rahul Ji are targeted only because the government wants to divert the attention of people from the real issues relating to its all round failure in addressing problems faced by farmers, workers amid rising prices of essential commodities and also the security concerns of the country.”

Meanwhile, Sonia Gandhi is expected to reach to the ED office around noon today for recording of her statement under provisions of Prevention of Money laundering Act (PMLA) in the case, officials said.

Initially, she was summoned by the agency on Monday but it was deferred by a day.

The 75-five-year old Gandhi was questioned for over two hours during her first day of questioning in the case on July 21 where she replied to 28 questions put forth by the agency, the officials said.

The ED is probing alleged financial irregularities in the Congress-promoted Young Indian Private Limited, which owns the National Herald newspaper.

Officials said that like it was on the first day of her appearance, all Covid-appropriate protocols will be put in place Tuesday as well such as stationing of doctors and an ambulance, ‘Covid negative’ certificates of investigators and proper physical distancing between Gandhi and the team of investigators.