Smriti Irani: Congress responsible for increased NPAs in country

Union minister Smriti Irani, in a sharp takedown of Rahul Gandhi today after a court rejected his request in a tax case, sneered: “He is quick to hug Prime Minister Narendra Modi but he would run a mile when it comes to an income tax officer.” The BJP leader said the Congress president and his mother Sonia Gandhi challenging a move to reopen their 2011-2012 tax assessments reveals “deep seated corruption” in the party.

Smriti Irani’s allegations refer to an income tax investigation linked to what is dubbed the “National Herald case” – or allegations that the Gandhis used their leadership of the Congress to misuse party funds for personal profit. “Mr Rahul Gandhi has many questions to answer,” Smriti Irani said, going hammer-and-tongs at the Congress chief. The case involves allegations by BJP leader Subramanian Swamy that the Gandhis set up a company, Young Indian, to buy debts worth Rs. 90 crore owed by Associated Journals Limited, publisher of three newspapers including the National Herald, an English daily founded and edited by Jawaharlal Nehru – Rahul Gandhi’s great-grandfather – before he became India’s first prime minister. In 2008, Associated Journals had shut down over its debts. The BJP alleges that the Gandhis used Congress party funds to pay of its debts even though the publisher has real estate assets worth thousands of crores. “Rahul Gandhi set up a company in 2011, professing it will not indulge in profit-loss business. Young Indian bought Associated Journals, which is commercial. A company whose job is not for profit or loss, why is it buying a commercial company?” questioned Smriti Irani.