National Herald case: Perils of Congress playing victim

Faced with an awkward situation where two of its top leaders, Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi, will have to appear in a lower court to explain their position on the allegations of inappropriate conduct in the National Herald case, the Congress has taken recourse to the good old tactics of playing the victim.

One of the obvious spinoffs of crying political vendetta is that it brings a sense of entitlement to sympathy. The political history of the country has shown that those perceived to be the victims are often pitied and rewarded in the elections.

By turning a legal battle into political storm, the Congress strategy seems to be to kick enough dust to blur the actual facts. The illustrious legal team of the Congress should help the party contest the allegations in the court of law and prove the petitioner wrong. Mere fact that petition has been filed by Subramanian Swamy, who is a BJP leader, cannot be the ground for claiming political witch-hunting.

The way Congress has reacted to the Delhi High Court order dismissing plea for exemption for the top leaders to appear in the court, it is clear that Winter Session of Parliament faces prospects of a washout. The development does not augur well for the government which was in the middle of reconciliatory talks with the Opposition to get the crucial economic reforms legislation on Goods and Services Tax (GST) passed.

It is unlikely that the Congress will lend its helping hand to bail out the government. Lost in the din at the moment is idea of national interest as the deadlock on the GST legislation will again delay the roll out of tax reforms. It's unfortunate and our political leaders must realise that Parliament cannot - and should not - suffer over a legal battle.

(Courtesy of Mail Today.)