ED Chargesheet Politically Driven, Claims Kharge as Sonia and Rahul Gandhi Named in National Herald Case
Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge alleges a BJP-led conspiracy behind Enforcement Directorate action, asserts the party will continue to fight back.
New Delhi: Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge on Saturday alleged a political conspiracy after the Enforcement Directorate (ED) named Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi in its charge sheet related to the National Herald case. Addressing a gathering of AICC general secretaries, state in-charges, and leaders of frontal organisations, Kharge described the ED’s move as part of a targeted campaign by the BJP-led central government.
“You must have seen how Sonia Gandhi, Chairperson of the Congress Parliamentary Party, and Rahul Gandhi, Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha, have been named in the chargesheet as part of a larger conspiracy. But no matter the names included, we are not afraid,” Kharge said.
He further pointed to the ED’s recent action of attaching properties linked to the National Herald in Delhi, Mumbai, and Lucknow, and claimed these steps were acts of “political vendetta.”
आज AICC महासचिवों, प्रभारियों और फ्रंटल संगठनों के अध्यक्षों की बैठक में मेरे शुरुआती वक्तव्य के अंश —
पिछले 8-9 अप्रैल को हम सभी लोग अहमदाबाद AICC सत्र में मिले थे। आप सभी को मैं इस सेशन की ऐतिहासिक सफलता के लिए बहुत बधाई देता हूं।
इस सेशन में पारित Resolution को आप सभी ने… pic.twitter.com/53fo6yWMJs— Mallikarjun Kharge (@kharge) April 19, 2025
Kharge explained that Young Indian, the company at the center of the controversy, is a not-for-profit entity, meaning shares or profits of Associated Journals Ltd (AJL) cannot be transferred. “Yet the BJP continues to spread lies and mislead the public. It is our responsibility to bring out the truth,” he added.
Timing Under Scrutiny
The Congress chief also questioned the timing of the ED’s action, noting that it closely followed the party’s national session in Ahmedabad. “Earlier, during our session in Raipur, there were ED and CBI raids on our leaders. The aim was to disrupt our events—but we conducted them successfully,” Kharge said.
He reminded the audience that ahead of the last Lok Sabha elections, Congress bank accounts were frozen, but the party emerged stronger in Parliament.
Opposition to Waqf Amendment Bill
Kharge also referenced the party’s stand against the Waqf (Amendment) Bill. He said the Congress played a key role in uniting the opposition, and the matter is now under the Supreme Court’s review—particularly the controversial “Waqf by user” clause, which he said was introduced to cause confusion regarding Waqf properties.
Call for Continued Resistance
Emphasizing the need for a coordinated and strategic approach, Kharge urged party workers to persist in highlighting public issues. “We will win this legal and political fight. The BJP’s misinformation campaign will not succeed. We must continue to expose their agenda and push forward the resolutions adopted in Ahmedabad,” he said.