NEW DELHI: Attacking Rahul Gandhi for challenging the I-T department’s decision to reopen his 2011-12 tax assessments, Union minister
Smriti Irani on Tuesday said the Congress president was quick to hug PM
Narendra Modi but would run a mile from an income tax officer.
Rahul needs to answer many questions, the minister said, a day after the Delhi high court dismissed pleas filed by him and his mother and UPA chief Sonia Gandhi against the decision to reopen tax assessments in connection with a case related to the National Herald newspaper. Their appeals in the court “reveal deep-seated corruption in the hallowed halls of the Congress party,” Irani said.
“Why is it that Mr Rahul Gandhi, who is too quick to hug the Prime Minister, would run a mile when it comes to an income tax officer,” Irani asked, referring to the Congress chief hugging Modi in Lok Sabha during the no-confidence debate in July.
She accused Rahul of setting up a not-for-profit company, “Young Indians”, which then bought a commercial company, Associated Journals Ltd, and its debts worth Rs 90 crore for Rs 50 lakh. “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,” she said, questioning the deal.
Associated Journals Ltd, founded by
Jawaharlal Nehru, publishes three newspapers, including the National Herald. After buying the loan of Associated Journals, Rahul Gandhi, his sister
Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and Sonia Gandhi became owners of a company, Irani claimed. BJP has alleged that the Gandhis used Congress funds to pay its debts even though the publisher has real estate assets worth thousands of crores.
