Seeking to dispel the notion that gained ground that the top Congress leadership will not apply for a bail in the National Herald case, the party on Friday said it was open to all legal remedies and options.
Sources said Congress president Sonia Gandhi and party vice-president Rahul Gandhi may seek bail when they appear before Metropolitan Magistrate lovleen in the Patiala House courts.
“We are open to availing all legal remedies and options including bail,” AICC chief spokesman Randeep Surjewala said. Sonia and Rahul have been summoned by the trial court on a private criminal complaint of BJP leader Subramanian Swamy of conspiracy, cheating, breach of trust and misappropriation of property.
Replying to media queries if she will appear in the court, Sonia said, “Naturally”.
Surjewala said the Congress leadership does not want the court process to be interfered with or influenced in any manner and so the party has asked workers not to come to the court. However, Congress MPs have been asked to gather at the party headquarters ahead of the appearance of the Gandhis in the court as a measure of solidarity.
“The Modi Government cannot suppress Sonia Gandhi or Rahul Gandhi or the Congress from continuing to raise the voice of the people,” Surjewala added.
Senior party leaders said that the Congress wants it to be a low key affair and there would be no show of strength. AICC has dismissed reports that the Congress has called its State leaders to Delhi when the Gandhis will appear before the court. The party has been maintaining so far that a decision would be taken in accordance with what advice the lawyers will give.
Senior advocate Abhishek Singhvi, who is representing the Gandhis, said “Unnecessary hype over a routine procedure need not be created by the media. We are proceeding in every manner in accordance with law.”
Singhvi, who is also party spokesman, said, “We have been scrupulously avoiding all hype or hoopla about this as fas as courts are concerned.” Party general secretary Shakeel Ahmed said the Congress would politically fight the Narendra Modi Government on the issue as it was a “vendetta”.