rediff.com
News APP

NewsApp (Free)

Read news as it happens
Download NewsApp

Available on  gplay

Rediff.com  » News » Rahul responds: 'Swamy's charges baseless, defamatory'
This article was first published 11 years ago

Rahul responds: 'Swamy's charges baseless, defamatory'

Last updated on: November 1, 2012 21:24 IST


Rahul Gandhi has threatened to pursue "all legal actions" against Janata Party chief Subramanian Swamy, who targeted him and Sonia Gandhi raising questions over acquisition of a company that published the now-defunct National Herald newspaper to which Congress gave a loan of over Rs 90 crore.

"Our attention has been drawn to your purported press conference of the afternoon of November 1. The allegations made by you are utterly false, entirely baseless and defamatory," Rahul Gandhi's office said in a communication to Swamy (Read the letter here).

It said, "Your action of calling a press conference is a motivated attempt for reasons, which one can easily discern."

"We are committed to pursuing all legal actions against the scandalous abuse evident in your so-called press conference. Please be informed that we shall pursue the legal remedies open to us against the utterly motivated and irresponsible contents of your press conference. 

"And that we shall pursue all proceedings that are available in law to ensure that an individual like you do not abuse the freedom to speak and write in utter violation of the equal important need in a civilised society to maintain the dignity of individuals and organizations and to abide by the law of the country," it said.

...

'Swamy has raised serious allegations against Sonia Gandhi and Rahul'


Earlier addressing a press conference in New Delhi, Swami had said that Sonia and Rahul had floated a Section 25 company called 'Young Indian' each with a share holding of 38 per cent, which acquired Associated Journals, founded by late Jawaharlal Nehru, that published the National Herald and Quami Awaz.

Swamy said Associated Journals obtained an unsecured loan of over Rs 90 crore from AICC which he claimed was illegal under Income Tax Act because a political party cannot give loans for commercial purposes.

Reacting to Swamy's claims, the Bharatiya Janata Party said the allegations are serious in nature and demanded a probe into the matter as well as clarification from the two Congress leaders.

"Swamy has raised serious allegations against Sonia Gandhi and Rahul. A private company was acquired by them and political funds were used to buy two big newspapers. A property worth Rs 1600 crore was amassed. All these charges deserve an answer. These are not small charges and should be clarified in the public domain," BJP spokesperson Rajiv Pratap Rudy said.

© Copyright 2024 PTI. All rights reserved. Republication or redistribution of PTI content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent.