The Congress party criticized the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led Central government for allegedly misusing the central agency to undermine the Opposition.
Protests began outside the party headquarters at Akbar Road in New Delhi, spreading to ED offices and Congress offices nationwide.
Watch the videos here:
#WATCH | Congress workers protested against the central government at their office on 24, Akbar Road in Delhi.
The party is conducting a nationwide demonstration outside Enforcement Directorate offices at State Headquarters and in front of Central Government offices at… pic.twitter.com/Yj1aAKDGry— ANI (@ANI) April 16, 2025
On April 9, the ED filed a chargesheet alleging money laundering related to the National Herald Case against Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi at Rouse Avenue Court in Delhi, which was reviewed by special judge Vishal Gogne on April 15. The next hearing is scheduled for April 25.
The chargesheet also named Congress members Sam Pitroda and Suman Dubey as accused.
On April 15, Congress called for nationwide protests against the actions of the BJP government and the ED.
#WATCH | Enhanced security was seen outside the Congress office at Akbar Road in Delhi
Congress plans to protest nationwide in front of Enforcement Directorate offices at State Headquarters and at Central Government offices throughout the districts in each state… pic.twitter.com/82sAjAvHeO— ANI (@ANI) April 16, 2025
Congress and BJP Clash Over the Case
The protests have ignited discussions about the agency’s perceived puppet status under the Union government, leading to a back-and-forth between BJP and Congress workers as well as their supporters online.
While Congress leaders accuse the BJP of misusing the agency for political advantage, BJP representatives assert that Congress is fearful of the legal actions due to their involvement in the case.
Congress national spokesperson Jairam Ramesh referred to the legal action as “political vendetta” and a “state-sponsored crime”.
“Seizing the assets of the National Herald is a state-sponsored crime disguised as lawful governance. The chargesheet against Smt. Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, and others is nothing more than the vindictive politics and intimidation tactics of the PM and HM that have gone awry. The INC and its leadership will not be silenced. Satyameva Jayate,” Ramesh posted on X (formerly Twitter).
VIDEO | The police detained Delhi Congress president Devender Yadav (@devendrayadvinc) along with other party members during the protest against the Centre following the Enforcement Directorate’s chargesheet against Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, and others related to money laundering in the… pic.twitter.com/In8wnCFp7C
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) April 16, 2025
BJP spokesperson CR Kesavan indicated that the Congress’s protests only intensify the scrutiny surrounding the actions of Congress leaders.
“Rahul Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi, currently out on bail in the National Herald case, might regard themselves as above the law within their dynastic party, but they are not beyond the scope of Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar’s Constitution, which asserts that all are equal before the law,” Kesavan stated to PTI.
“The Congress party’s protest against the chargesheet today, aimed at intimidating the agencies, only heightens suspicions regarding the Congress leadership’s integrity in the National Herald matter,” he added.
VIDEO | In Delhi: Police clear away Congress activists demonstrating against the Centre due to the Enforcement Directorate’s chargesheet against Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, and others on allegations of money laundering in the National Herald case.#NationalHeraldCase #DelhiNews
(Full video… pic.twitter.com/an4sfJVU4E— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) April 16, 2025
Allegations of Witch-Hunt Against Rahul and Sonia: Venugopal
Congress MP KC Venugopal condemned Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah for the ED’s actions, labeling them as a witch-hunt targeting Congress leaders to stifle dissent.
“The vendetta of the Modi-Shah regime against the Opposition is boundless. The witch hunt against Smt. Sonia Gandhi ji and LOP Sh. @RahulGandhi ji, propelled by the politically charged and fabricated National Herald case, exemplifies their attempt to intimidate and silence opposition voices,” he wrote on X.
The Modi-Shah regime’s vendetta against the Opposition knows no bounds. The witch hunt against Smt. Sonia Gandhi ji and LOP Sh. @RahulGandhi ji, using the frivolous, politically motivated & fabricated National Herald case, is a clear example of their attempt at intimidation and…
— K C Venugopal (@kcvenugopalmp) April 15, 2025
Concurrently, BJP MP Ravi Shankar Prasad remarked that Congress has no right to misappropriate government funds, accusing party leaders of money laundering.
“The Congress party has the right to protest, but it cannot misappropriate government properties and transfer them to the National Herald… A corporate conspiracy was orchestrated ingeniously to secure all these properties for the family…” Prasad expressed during a press conference.
“And what are these properties? One on Bahadur Shah Zafar Marg in Delhi, others in Mumbai, Lucknow, Bhopal, and Patna. Young India Limited was meant to be a charitable organization; however, it remains unclear what charity it has provided… Writing off ₹90 crores for ₹50 lakhs while acquiring properties worth thousands of crores…” he continued.
#WATCH | In Delhi, regarding the ED’s prosecution complaint against Rahul Gandhi, Sonia Gandhi, and others in the purported National Herald money laundering case, BJP MP Ravi Shankar Prasad stated, “One thing needs to be remembered that Rahul Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi are currently out on bail. They approached… pic.twitter.com/FNZCAPdS4w
— ANI (@ANI) April 16, 2025
(With agency inputs)
