Day 2: Congress stalls Rajya Sabha

Leader of Opposition Ghulam Nabi Azad accuses central government of misusing the Enforcement Directorate (ED) for reopening the case

New Delhi: The National Herald case stalled the Rajya Sabha for the second day yesterday as soon as the house met at 11 am after Congress members stormed the chairman's podium raising the issue of summons to party president Sonia Gandhi and vice president Rahul Gandhi.

Congress workers in Kolkata burn an effigy of PM Modi during a protest against Centre regarding the National Herald case yesterday. Pic/PTI

Leader of Opposition Ghulam Nabi Azad accused the government for misusing the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in getting the case reopened. "ED had shut the case. Subramanian Swamy and the government got it reopened," Azad said, adding, "We have no charges against the judiciary... It is not the fault of the court, but of this government... which changed the ED who reopened the case. So my charge is that on the direction of the government, the cases against all opposition leaders are being reopened, even if they are small cases."

Azad's comments came just before the house was adjourned for the day around 3.15 pm. "Democracy is being murdered so this is the best platform to raise the issue, in the temple of democracy," he said.

However, Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi countered Azad stating that the Opposition should start a discussion rather than creating a ruckus. The Congress members chanted slogans against Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

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