Bengaluru, 1 Dec

Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Monday accused the BJP of “political revenge,” after the Delhi police registered an FIR against Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi and others in the National Herald case.

Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar termed the Delhi police’s move as “unfair” and said, “There is a limit to harassment.”

The Delhi Police filed an FIR against Sonia Gandhi and RahulGandhi and other accused in the National Herald case on a complaint by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) as part of the agency’s money laundering probe.

“It is being done politically. BJP is trying to take political revenge,” Siddaramaiah told reporters.

Shivakumar accused the Centre of “engaging in vindictive politics.” He said, “It (National Herald) is not Sonia Gandhi or Rahul Gandhi’s property. They were just the custodians of the shares as party presidents... from the days of Jawaharlal Nehru it has been there. It is not their personal property, they have already declared. Young Indian or National Herald belongs to a political party.”

Shivakumar, who is also the State Congress chief, noted that the Gandhi family are the custodians of the party and said, “During the time of Vohra (Motilal Vora) and Patel (Ahmed Patel), decisions have been taken to protect the interests of the Congress party.”

Alleging “political torture” by the government at the Centre, Shivakumar said, “It is jealousy, Rahul never cares for such things. Even if you put him in jail, he won’t care.” He added, “I appeal to the central government. This vindictive attitude will not give you fruits, it will only show your ethical values. Let’s face politically on the streets, in public and elections. Not by harassing, by misusing various institutions.”