New Delhi, April 22 (NationPress) The Congress party on Tuesday launched a fierce critique against the BJP regarding the renewed political maneuvering in the National Herald case, expressing skepticism about the timing of the Enforcement Directorate's (ED) charge sheet, which was filed after a span of 11 years, and labeling the allegations as "unfounded and politically driven".

The ED submitted a prosecution complaint on April 9 targeting former Congress President Sonia Gandhi, Opposition Leader Rahul Gandhi, and several others.

This charge sheet accuses them of money laundering related to illicit gains amounting to Rs 5,000 crore, setting the stage for the potential formulation of criminal charges and an ensuing trial.

The special MP/MLA court in Delhi has scheduled April 25 for the next hearing, determining whether to acknowledge the charge sheet, a pivotal juncture in the prolonged legal proceedings against the Gandhis and their close affiliates.

Congress National Spokesperson Supriya Shrinate deemed the ED's charge sheet "fabricated" and accused the Modi administration of utilizing investigative bodies for political retribution.

In a statement to IANS, she remarked, "The entire National Herald case is founded on fabricated and unsupported claims. The reality is that the ED's charge sheet alleges money laundering in a scenario where there was not a single penny transaction, not a single transfer, nor any change of ownership."

Providing context to the case, Shrinate detailed, "AJL was the company that published National Herald, which rose to prominence during Independence as the nation's voice. Following a loan incurred by the company, the Congress party provided a loan of Rs 90 crore via 100 bank transactions and cheques. As is customary in NCLT procedures, the debt was converted into equity, leading to the formation of a new entity, Young Indian."

"Young Indian is a non-profit organization. Its four shareholders include Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, Oscar Fernandes, and Motilal Vora. Given its non-profit status, Young Indian cannot distribute any profits or dividends to its shareholders," she elaborated.

Shrinate accused the BJP government of disseminating falsehoods, stating, "What is the government's accusation? We did not conceal the loan; we disclosed it openly. Unlike the BJP, which engages in business through electoral bonds, we have been transparent. The BJP's lack of evidence is apparent in their submission of this fraudulent charge sheet."

Regarding the delayed actions, Shrinate questioned, "The BJP has held power for 11 years; why is the charge sheet being filed only now? If there was substantial evidence, it would have been filed sooner. The truth is, they lack any data to substantiate their claims, and everyone is aware of this."

In a related development, Congress expressed strong disapproval of BJP MP Bansuri Swaraj's act of carrying a tote bag emblazoned with the phrase 'National Herald Ki Loot' to a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) meeting on 'One Nation, One Election'.

This gesture, which attracted media attention, was perceived as a deliberate political jab at the Congress party.

Congress Rajya Sabha MP Rashid Alvi vocally criticized the BJP MP for what he referred to as "bag politics."

"She is the daughter of Sushma Swaraj. Perhaps the BJP nominated her because of her lineage. Instead of engaging in such bag politics, she should aspire to be a competent parliamentarian like her mother. Carrying a bag and indulging in trivial politics will not qualify her as a parliamentarian," he commented to IANS.

"She is still young. My advice to her is to emulate her esteemed mother in speech and diligence and strive to become a commendable parliamentarian instead of being distracted by petty issues like other BJP leaders. If she continues down this path, she will struggle to progress," Alvi added.