Cong dares Swamy to move court against Sonia and Rahul

The Congress and Janata Party president Subramanian Swamy are in a fresh war of words, challenging each other to move the court over the latter's allegations against UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi and Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi. While the office of Rahul Gandhi has sent a letter to Swamy threatening legal action, the Janata Party president has said that he would respond to the letters only if he is dragged to the court.

Swamy challenged Rahul Gandhi to file a case after he threatened legal action against the Janata party president over his allegations of irregularities by Rahul and Sonia Gandhi in transferring funds from a trust to a private company.

Dismissing Rahul's letter threatening legal action, Swamy said, "Either Rahul Gandhi writes a letter or his lawyer writes a letter. Either of those letters, I'll throw in the waste paper basket without reading. My advice to Rahul Gandhi is – grow up, go to the court and file a defamation case. I will fight you there." 

Meanwhile, the Congress threw its weight behind Rahul and Sonia, and brushed aside the allegations made by Swamy. Sam Pitroda, Advisor to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, said, "The allegations made are utterly false, entirely baseless and defamatory. There are lots of legal options against these utterly motivated and irresponsible of the press conference."

The Congress also maintained that there was no substance in the allegations with party leader PC Chacko saying, "Newspaper property is never ever valued in real estate terms, and if anybody thinks that this is taking over of real estate, we have nothing to say."

"Arun Jaitley and Subramanian Swamy, hand in glove, they want to defame the Congress. If they have the courage to do it, if they know there is a violation of law let them take it to the court," said Chacko.

Asserting that all the options were open to the Congress, Chacko said that the party was not bound to answer the "blind questions". Instead, he said that Swamy must prove and answer the question.

"No newspaper property is valued in real estate terms. If anyone thinks it is the taking over of realty, then we have nothing to say," said Chacko.

Meanwhile, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has demanded an independent investigation into the issue. Speaking to mediapersons, senior BJP leader Arun Jaitley said, "It's a gross violation of law, it's a violation of the exemption, it's a violation of the I-T Act, and it's a violation of your conditions of your registration as a political party."