Karnataka Deputy CM D.K. Shivakumar Defends Rahul Gandhi Amid National Herald Case FIR
DK Shivakumar defends Rahul Gandhi, accusing Centre of political harassment over National Herald case.
Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister and State Congress President D.K. Shivakumar on Monday vehemently defended Congress leader Rahul Gandhi following the FIR filed against him in the National Herald case. Speaking at the Vidhana Soudha in Bengaluru, Shivakumar accused the BJP-led central government of misusing investigative agencies to harass Rahul Gandhi as an act of political vengeance.
Shivakumar criticized the ongoing investigation as “unfair” and emphasized that the National Herald does not belong personally to Rahul Gandhi or Sonia Gandhi. Instead, he explained, the Gandhis, as Presidents of the Congress party, are custodians of the institution’s shares — a practice rooted in party tradition dating back to former Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru. “Even the Chief Minister and I hold shares in various boards and corporations during our tenure, and these revert once our terms end,” he remarked.
Addressing concerns over the political implications, the deputy CM stated that key decisions related to National Herald had involved multiple senior Congress leaders over the years, including during the leadership of Morarji Desai and Ahmed Patel. He highlighted how Sonia Gandhi assumed leadership during a crisis to stabilize the party, which subsequently governed India for two decades, stressing that the current harassment aims solely to target the party politically.
Also Read: Elon Musk Defends H-1B Visas for Indians: "Don't Scrap It – Just Fix Outsourcing Abuse!"
Shivakumar was firm in declaring that Rahul Gandhi will not be deterred by legal cases or jail threats, warning that such tactics amount to “political torture” and “vindictive politics.” He said, “This politics of hatred by the Central government is wrong” and cautioned that it risks diminishing the moral standing of the government itself. “Let us fight elections and politics directly with the people, rather than through harassment,” he said.
Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah also weighed in, accusing the BJP of resorting to political revenge against Rahul Gandhi. Together, their statements underline the Congress party’s resolve amid intensified legal challenges facing their leadership.
Also Read: DK Shivakumar Invites CM Siddaramaiah for Second Breakfast Meet Amid Power Struggle
