Ravi Shankar Prasad
Launching a scathing attack on UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi and Congress president Rahul Gandhi after the Delhi High Court asked the National Herald newspaper's publisher to vacate the Herald House within two weeks, the BJP on Saturday accused the mother-son duo of misusing public money.
Talking to media persons, Union Cabinet Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad alleged that corruption by Sonia and Rahul gandhi has been exposed by the court.
He also slammed Congress for raising questions over Rafale deal even after the Supreme Court categorically ruled out any foul play.
"The court has found questionable as to how public premises and land worth Rs 5,000 crore including the property build on it could surreptitiously be transferred to the family trust for a consideration of Rs 50 lakh. Sonia Gandhi and Rahul must reply...," Ravi Shankar Prasad said.
On Friday, the high court dismissed a plea of the Associated Journals Ltd (AJL) challenging the Centre's October 30 direction asking the National Herald newspaper's publisher to vacate the Herald House within two weeks.
Justice Sunil Gaur said if the House is not handed over to the Land and Development Officer within two weeks, the government can initiate proceedings under the provisions of Public Premises Act.
"Corruption by them (Sonia Gandhi and Rahul) has been exposed by the court. HC's decision is a proof how government property is being looted. Even after Supreme Court's verdict, Congress continues to rake up the Rafale issue aggressively, but now it is their turn to rely to the high court's order," the Minister added.
The government inspected the premises a few months ago and found that the area allotted to AJL was not being used for the publication of newspaper for the past 10 years, the court was told.
"The way in which public property, a costly land, is being abused (sic) by the family trust of Sonia Gandhi and Rahul, along with their family retainers, has been confirmed by a judgement of the Delhi High Court. The allotment...was for the only purpose of running the newspaper," Prasad noted.
(With IANS inputs)
