by Harish Gupta, National Editor, Lokmat Group
The Winter Session of Parliament may not be a washout as predicted by many after a huge confrontation witnessed in Parliament in the National Herald case.
The government has conveyed explicitly to the Congress leadership that it has no hand whatsoever in courts in the National Herald case. In fact, senior advocates appearing for the Congress had pleaded before the high court that the case should be heard by the same judge who was hearing it earlier. The registry had changed the case from one judge to another after the festival break. The Congress plea was accepted by the court and the Congress got the same judge it wanted.
￭ Government washes hands off with Dr
Swamy
￭ I-T not proceeding in the tax
exemption case
Harish Gupta
New Delhi, Dec 8
The Winter Session of Parliament may not be a washout as predicted by many after a huge confrontation witnessed in Parliament in the National Herald case.
Last ditch efforts are being made
to restore calm in the Parliament session ending on December 23. Since the
magistrate hearing the National Herald case has posted the matter for December
19 and the Congress leaders have decided to fight judicially and politically as
well, disruptions in Parliament may not continue for long either.
All eyes are set on the massive
wedding reception to be held on Wednesday for Union finance minister Arun
Jaitley's daughter Sonali with Jayesh. The presence of Sonia Gandhi or Rahul
Gandhi on the occasion may give a clue of melting the ice. The aggression on
the part of Congress may also subside during the next couple of days as it
would revert to the debate on intolerance rather than on corruption.
The government has conveyed explicitly to the Congress leadership that it has no hand whatsoever in courts in the National Herald case. In fact, senior advocates appearing for the Congress had pleaded before the high court that the case should be heard by the same judge who was hearing it earlier. The registry had changed the case from one judge to another after the festival break. The Congress plea was accepted by the court and the Congress got the same judge it wanted.
Secondly, the Income Tax
department has not proceeded against the Congress party for giving ` 90 crores
as interest free loan to Associate Journals Limited. The Income Tax exemption
of the Congress can be withdrawn merely on the ground of diversion of funds
under the existing rules. The department has been moving at a snail's pace
after issuing one notice. It was stated by the government that the BCCI's tax
exemption was withdrawn by the UPA government when it gave ` 25 crores for the
promotion of Football to Football Association. The department said that BCCI
cannot transfer funds for the promotion of football as exemptions are given only
for the promotion of cricket. These exemptions have not been restored for
several years. Therefore, the government has no political vendetta against the
Congress party. Rather it is trying to help the Congress in the case.
It was also explained to senior leaders
of the Congress by the government that Dr Subramanian Swamy may be a member of
the BJP. But the current ruling establishment has nothing to do with him as he
had fired salvos at the ruling party as well in the past.
