BJP National General Secretary Tarun Chugh launched a strong critique against the Congress party’s protests regarding the Enforcement Directorate’s (ED) actions in the National Herald case. He characterized the Congress’s reaction as “ulta chor kotwal ko daante,” meaning “the thief scolding the policeman.”
This statement followed the ED’s filing of a charge sheet against prominent Congress leaders, including Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi, in a money laundering investigation related to the National Herald case. In response, AICC General Secretary Jairam Ramesh alleged political motivation and questioned the timing of the ED’s actions, especially in the context of the upcoming Bihar elections, while vowing the party would not be intimidated.
Chugh countered, “As soon as the law begins to expose the truth, Congress cries vendetta. Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi have been on bail for several years in cases involving cheating, fraud, and embezzlement. Now, when the court demands accountability, they are resorting to pressure tactics. Does the Congress no longer believe in the country’s judicial system?”
He accused the Congress of placing the Gandhi-Nehru family above the law, stating, “The Gandhi-Nehru family seems to believe that just by virtue of their surnames, they are above the law and national institutions. This is not just a scam or an isolated incident of corruption—it’s a betrayal of democracy and the legacy of our freedom fighters. The money involved belongs to the country and its people, and the Congress’ decades-old culture of institutionalised corruption is now being exposed.”
Chugh further asserted that the Congress’s protests were an attempt to obstruct the judicial process. “When the court summons Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi, the Congress stages protests to shield them. They are sending a message that the law should not touch the Gandhi-Nehru dynasty. This mindset is unfortunate and fundamentally undemocratic,” he said.
Turning his attention to the violence in West Bengal, where three people were killed, Chugh criticized Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee for what he perceived as selective concern. “West Bengal is burning, yet Mamata Banerjee is more worried about ‘jihadi’ elements from the Muslim League and AIMIM. There is no concern for the Hindus fleeing Murshidabad to save their lives. Relief camps are being dismantled, and migrants are being pressured to return without any assurance of safety,” he claimed.
He strongly condemned Banerjee’s accusation that BSF personnel incited violence by paying youths to throw stones during the Murshidabad unrest. “Mamata Banerjee has stooped to a new low by blaming the BSF and central agencies. Her government has surrendered to the Muslim League’s agenda in the name of appeasement. Trinamool Congress is now echoing the divisive politics of the 1940s, reminiscent of Direct Action Day. Instead of protecting its citizens, the state government has aligned with those causing unrest,” Chugh asserted.
Finally, Chugh addressed the Karnataka Transparency in Public Procurements (Amendment) Bill, which proposes 4 percent reservation for Muslims in public contracts. “Congress is attempting to enforce unconstitutional religion-based reservations in Karnataka. This goes against the vision of B.R. Ambedkar and the basic tenets of the Constitution. They are misleading society in the name of caste and religion, pushing the country towards dangerous communal fault lines. Congress is using Karnataka and Kerala as laboratories of division. The country will not forgive them,” he concluded.
