Sonia Gandhi and Rahul have not got a single paisa from Young Indian or assets of AJL,Congress has asserted as perhaps for the first time it came out with a FAQ format clarification on its website to rebut allegations by Finance Minister Arun Jaitley on National Herald issue.
Countering the government offensive, the party lists 15 questions and answers under "Frequently Asked Questions on the National Herald case" and gives details of profit and losses of The Associated Journals Ltd (AJL) from 2008-09 to 20014-15.
The move comes at a time when the government has decried the main Opposition party for stalling Parliament on the issue, alleging that it was trying to get a parliamentary remedy for something that happened during a judicial process.
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In response to a question whether Jaitley calling Young Indian a real estate company is true, the party responded: "Absolutely false. YI does not own a single real estate asset or immovable property. AJL (The Associated Journals Ltd) continues to own all its assets. The allegation is, therefore, completely baseless."
In an article, Jaitley had said that Rs 90 crore from the funds collected by the Congress Party were given to the newspaper company AJL and eventually that tax exempted money effectively got transferred to a real estate company, which acquired 99 per cent of the share-holding of the former newspaper company.
The first question is about whether Sonia Gandhi or Rahul Gandhi benefited financially from Young Indians to which the party replies in negative saying as directors or shareholders of Young Indian, a non-profit, Section 25 company, they are prohibited by law from drawing (and have not drawn) any financial benefits.
In the write up, the party also declares the AJL has every intention of "reviving" the National Herald newspaper and "restoring the media voice" that Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru had founded.
It also justifies Congress association with National Herald saying "every political party needs to effectively communicate its ideology and its policies to the public at large. A newspaper provides a channel through which to do this."
On whether any assets have been transferred from The Associated Journals Ltd. (AJL) to Young Indian (YI), the party said, "No. All the assets and the income of AJL remain with the company. Not a single paisa has gone to YI, YI Directors or YI Shareholders".
The write up also details AJL's financial position and said that after AJL's debt of Rs. 90 crores was extinguished in February 2011, AJL was able to declare its first profit in several years in 2011-12 and came into the black from the red.
"This was only as a result of the financial revival plan of AJL as conceived by the Congress Party," it says.
Congress chief spokesman Randeep Surjewala said partymen
have a "deep sense of satisfaction" over the Supreme Court decision.
"We have always believed that the remarks, assertions and conclusions recorded by the single bench of Delhi High Court were neither appropriate on the merits of the case nor in accordance with the established tenets of law.
"In fact, these remarks amounted to prejudicing the ongoing judicial process before the trial court. Hon'ble Supreme Court has set aside these remarks and conclusions," he said in a statement.
Besides, he said the Supreme Court has also permitted that all assertions and submissions qua complete innocence, lack of culpability and absence of any crime of any nature on part of Congress leadership can be fairly raised before the trial court.
"Unfortunately, Swamy and his supporters in BJP continue to make irresponsible and misleading statements qua the entire process after raising objections before the Supreme Court. We would request all concerned to respect the fairness and impartiality of judicial process of the country," he added.
