National Herald case: Congress calls meeting of general secretaries, in-charges to plan protests

New Delhi: Senior Congress leaders will meet in the national capital on Saturday to decide on taking forward the “political” fight against the Enforcement Directorate (ED) naming Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi in a charge-sheet in the National Herald case.

Along with the legal challenge spearheaded by senior lawyer and Rajya Sabha MP Abhishek Singhvi, the meeting chaired by Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge would discuss the next course of protest action against the “state-sponsored crime” against the Gandhis.

General Secretaries, state in-charges and heads of frontal organisations like Youth Congress, Mahila Congress and NSU(I) among others have been asked to attend the meeting scheduled for Saturday at 4 pm.

Sources said the latest ED action is a response to its renewed vigour, especially after the Ahmedabad AICC Session, and a ploy to divert its attention from its organisation rebooting exercise. The meeting would provide the leaders with the details of the allegations and the counter.

They will also be given a blueprint about the protest action to be carried out while highlighting how the Narendra Modi government is allegedly targeting Opposition leaders, especially the Gandhis.

The Congress on Wednesday held protests outside ED offices in state capitals and central government offices in district headquarters, a day after a special court acknowledged the submission of the chargesheet and posted the case for next hearing on April 25.

While protests were held in almost all states and Union Territories on Wednesday, demonstrations are being held in Maharashtra, Haryana and Lakshadweep on Thursday and Friday against the “crude attempt at political intimidation” by the ruling BJP.

Meanwhile, Rahul will be visiting Brown University in United States' Rhode Island on April 21 and 22 where he will be giving a talk and interacting with faculty members and students. Prior to visiting Rhode Island, Rahul will also meet with members of the NRI community, as well as office bearers and members of the Indian Overseas Congress (IOC).