National Herald case: Rudy asks Rahul Gandhi to prove charges against PMO

Taking strong exception to the allegations levelled by Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi and the arrogance so far displayed by the Gandhis in Parliament and outside over a court ruling that went against them in the National Herald case, union minister of state for skill development and entrepreneurship Rajiv Pratap Rudy has asked Rahul Gandhi to 'prove his claim' that the prime minister's office is oppressing the judiciary.

"We would ask Rahul Gandhi, if he has courage enough; if he has a standing as a leader of his political party, he should come to Parliament and give the proof of the allegations that he has made against the judiciary, the government, and the PMO," Rudy told the media.

"He should come and give an explanation in the House, and should give the proof of what he is talking outside the House," he added.

Criticising the Congress vice president for being 'instrumental in disrupting the House', Rudy said, "After the court has taken some cognisance against him and Sonia Gandhi, they are trying to become heroes out of their charge against them."

"At the same time, they don't have enough courage to come inside the House and say what they are speaking to the television media," he added. "The friends of the Congress Party haven't mustered enough courage to go down and speak in Parliament to place the issues," he added. The Congress vice president termed the National Herald Case proceedings 'political vendetta'. This is pure political vendetta coming out of the PMO. It is their way of doing politics... I have full faith in the legal system."

Ever since the Delhi High Court dismissed Congress president Sonia Gandhi and son Rahul's pleas challenging summons issued to them by a trial court and directed them and five others to appear before it on 19 December in connection with the alleged breach of trust and misappropriation of funds in the National Herald case, the Gandhis have gone ballistic.

Speaking outside Parliament on Tuesday, Sonia thundered: "Why should I be scared of anyone? I am Indira Gandhi's daughter-in-law; I am not scared of anyone."

In Puducherry, the very day, Rahul said: "I absolutely see a political vendetta. This is the way the Central government functions, the way they think…"

These utterances reflect the tight corner they find themselves in and also smack of a delusion of grandeur and disregard for democratic and legal processes.

The Gandhis belief that they are above the law and the sense of entitlement stems from an impression made possible by the way India's Grand Old Party has made a dynasty of the Gandhis.

Sonia and Rahul Gandhi's moral outrage, however, seemingly sits at odds with the facts of the case.