BJP misusing ED in National Herald case: Former Rajasthan CM Ashok Gehlot
'People understand everything, there's no point in these things. Ever since these people came to power, they have been talking about a Congress-free country, an opposition-free country, and you know what they say about the Gandhi family...the family whose sacrifice and martyrdom is written in history...Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru handed over Anand Bhavan to the government, which was a property worth crores. He dedicated it to the country, and they are accusing that family...you see how these people misuse the ED...there has not been a transaction of even a single rupee, yet they are targeting Rahul Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi...,' Gehlot told ANI.
He further said that National Herald was started by Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru and the newspaper played an important role in the freedom movement.
'If the Congress wants to revive the newspaper, then what is the BJP's problem. When there is no money laundering, then how can Congress leaders be targeted?' he added.
Earlier, Gehlot, during the press conference, expressed deep concern over the political atmosphere in the country, alleging misuse of central investigative agencies and calling the current government 'fascist' in nature.
'The situation in the country is not normal. It's difficult to say in which direction India is heading. During the Congress rule, democracy was always strengthened. But now the central government sees opposition parties as enemies,' said Ashok Gehlot.
He accused the Modi government of weaponizing institutions like the ED, CBI, and Income Tax Department to target opposition leaders while giving a clean chit to those aligned with the ruling party. 'ED has created an atmosphere of fear. All corrupt people are being washed clean in the BJP's washing machine,' he said, in a sharp jibe at the ruling party.
The press conference, held at the Himachal Pradesh Congress headquarters, saw the presence of multiple dignitaries, including AICC national spokesperson and Theog MLA Kuldeep Singh Rathore, Cabinet Minister Anirudh Singh, former minister Asha Kumari, MLA Vivek Sharma, Congress co-incharge Chetan Chauhan, and former minister Ram Lal Thakur. (ANI)
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Mint
25 minutes ago
- Mint
'Move is appreciated': Kangana Ranaut after crackdown on OTT platforms
New Delhi [India], July 25 (ANI): Bollywood actress-turned-politician Kangana Ranaut has supported the Centre's ban on OTT platforms in the country. Speaking to ANI, the 'Emergency' star said that the move was crucial to protect the country's young people and was issued in the public interest. "The ban has been imposed to ensure that our culture and the minds of the youth are not corrupted. It is important to see that our society is not headed toward a complete downfall. It was awaited for a long time," she said. Kangana also appreciated the step taken against the illegal functioning of the OTT applications. Likewise, actor Ravi Kishan has also welcomed the decision, stating that "boundaries and limits need to be set." According to sources, the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has ordered the blocking of 25 over-the-top (OTT) platforms over allegedly publishing obscene, vulgar, and even pornographic material. As a part of it, platforms like Ullu, ALTT, Big Shots App, NeonX VIP, and Desiflix were found disseminating content that directly violated several provisions of Indian law, including Section 67 and 67A of the Information Technology Act, Section 292 of the Indian Penal Code, and Section 4 of the Indecent Representation of Women (Prohibition) Act, 1986. A total of 14 mobile applications, 26 websites have been ordered to be disabled by intermediaries under provisions of the IT Act, 2000 and the IT (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021. Much of the content showcased on the aforementioned platforms involved graphic sexual innuendos, long sequences of nudity, and pornographic visuals. Some, they believed, also had inappropriate sexual situations involving family relationships, which aggravated concerns over legality and decency. Previoulsy, in September 2024, all 25 platforms received official warnings. The Ministry also issued an advisory, asking the OTT platforms to comply with India's obscenity laws and the Code of Ethics prescribed under the IT Rules, 2021. (ANI)
Mint
25 minutes ago
- Mint
PM Modi receives ceremonial welcome in Maldives – 21-gun salute, national anthem, dance performance and more
Prime Minister Narendra Modi was accorded with a ceremonial welcome at the Republic Square in Malé on Friday. The PM was accompanied by Maldivian President Mohamed Muizzu at the venue, where the national anthems of both India and Maldives were played, news agency ANI reported. While PM Modi received a 21-gun salute at the ceremonial welcome, along with a dance performance by children, there was one particular image that stood out from the rest of the welcome ceremony – a gigantic photo of PM Modi on the side facade of The Ministry of Defence building in Malé. PM Modi is visiting the island nation at the invitation of Maldivian President Muizzu and will attend the 60th Independence Day celebrations of the country as the Guest of Honour. The visit is being seen as a breakthrough in the ties between India and Maldives following a spell of frostiness under Muizzu, known for his pro-China leanings. During the two-day trip, PM Modi will hold extensive talks with President Muizzu and inaugurate several India-assisted development projects in Maldives. "The prime minister's state visit also happens to be the first state visit of a head of government that President Muizzu is hosting in his presidency since he assumed the office in November 2023," Vikram Misri, foreign secretary, had said earlier this week. 'The Maldives is a very close partner in our neighbourhood, a very important partner in India's Neighbourhood First policy, and as part of the MAHASAGAR vision of India, which is Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security and Growth Across Regions,' he added. G Balasubramanian, the High Commissioner of India to the Maldives, told news agencies that various MOUs will be signed between India and the Maldives during PM Modi's trip. PM Modi was in the United Kingdom for two days before departing for Maldives, his second leg of the two-nation visit. India and the UK signed a landmark free trade agreement (FTA) on Thursday to boost bilateral trade and investments between the two nations. PM Modi and his UK counterpart Keir Starmer on Thursday endorsed the new 'India-UK Vision 2035' which will steer the bilateral ties for the next 10 years with a focused and time-bound programme of action in key pillars such as economy and growth, technology and innovation, defence and security, climate action and education. The FTA is expected to benefit 99 per cent Indian exports from tariff and will make it easier for British firms to export whisky, cars and other products to India, besides boosting the overall trade basket. The deal, firmed up after three years of negotiations, is expected to ensure comprehensive market access for Indian goods across all sectors and India will gain from tariff elimination on about 99 per cent of tariff lines (product categories) covering almost 100 per cent of the trade values, they said.
India.com
25 minutes ago
- India.com
32 Hours Booked: Marathon Discussion On Operation Sindoor Slated In Parliament Next Week
Monsoon Session: Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju on Friday said that there will be a special discussion on the gruesome Pahalgam terror attack and Operation Sindoor in the Lok Sabha on July 28 (Monday) and in the Rajya Sabha on July 29 (Tuesday). On April 22, terrorists gunned down 25 Indian nationals and one Nepali citizen in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir. In response to the brutal attack, the Indian Armed Forces launched Operation Sindoor on May 7, targeting terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK). Addressing the media, Rijiju stated that Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla convened a meeting of the Business Advisory Committee (BAC) earlier in the day, during which it was reiterated that the Centre is prepared for a discussion on Operation Sindoor. He added that the discussion will be held for 16 hours in the Lok Sabha and for 16 hours in the Rajya Sabha. 'Today, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla called the Business Advisory Committee (BAC), and it was reiterated that we are ready for a discussion on Operation Sindoor. It has been decided today that there will be a special discussion on the Pahalgam terror attack and Operation Sindoor on Monday (28th July),' Rijiju said. 'We have told them that Operation Sindoor will be discussed first. We will decide which issues will be discussed after that... Operation Sindoor will be debated for 16 hours in the Lok Sabha on Monday (July 28) and for 16 hours in the Rajya Sabha on Tuesday (July 29),' the Minister added. #WATCH | Delhi | Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister, Kiren Rijiju says, "All issues cannot be discussed together... The opposition has raised several issues, like the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise in Bihar and others. We have told them that Operation Sindoor will be… — ANI (@ANI) July 25, 2025 'Before the monsoon session began, several opposition parties, including the Congress, had requested that Operation Sindoor and the Pahalgam terror attack be discussed in Parliament. The government said we are ready to discuss it... The opposition has been creating a ruckus in Parliament from day one and protesting inside and outside Parliament and not allowing the House to function,' he said. 'In the first week of the monsoon session of Parliament, we have been able to pass only one bill... I urge all opposition parties not to disrupt the proceedings of Parliament,' Rijiju emphasised. Opposition parties have been demanding a discussion on the Pahalgam terror attack and Operation Sindoor, United States President Donald Trump's repeated claims that he brokered a ceasefire between India and Pakistan, and on electoral rolls revision in Bihar. Operation Sindoor Discussion Defence Minister Rajnath Singh is likely to initiate the discussion on Operation Sindhoor in the Lok Sabha on Monday, with Rajya Sabha expected to take up the debate on Tuesday. According to sources cited by the news agency ANI, Home Minister Amit Shah, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, and BJP MPs Anurag Thakur and Nishikant Dubey are expected to take part in the discussion in Lok Sabha. Furthermore, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to participate in the discussion in both houses. Meanwhile, sources also informed that Rajnath Singh and Jaishankar will be among the ministers who will take part in the discussion in the Rajya Sabha. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Monday, July 28, will initiate the discussion on Operation Sindoor in the Lok Sabha. Other ministers participating in the discussion include Home Minister Amit Shah, External Affairs Minister (EAM) S Jaishankar, and BJP MPs Anurag Thakur and Nishikant Dubey. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is also expected to participate in the discussion. Meanwhile, the Defence Minister, EAM, and other ministers would participate in the discussion in the Rajya Sabha as well. PM Modi may also participate. ANI also reported that TDP's Lavu Sri Krishna Devarayalu and GM Harish Balayogi are expected to take part in the discussion on Operation Sindoor in Lok Sabha. From the Samajwadi Party, its chief Akhilesh Yadav and MP Rajiv Rai will take part in the debate. Both houses have witnessed repeated adjournments since the beginning of the monsoon session of Parliament on July 21.
