Won't be surprised if Nehru gets ED summons in National Herald case: Sanjay Raut

In a stinging attack on the BJPled Central government Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut on June 5 said it wouldnt be surprising if the Enforcement Directorate issues summons against former prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru in the National Herald newspaper case and paste the notice on his memorialIn his weekly column published in Sena mouthpiece Saamana Raut alleged that National Herald was like a weapon created by Nehru during the freedom struggle and not a propertyWhen will traders in the presentday politics understand this asked Raut who is the executive editor of Saamana in an apparent jibe at the BJPThe ED recently issued summons to Congress president Sonia Gandhi and her MP son Rahul Gandhi in connection with a money laundering probe It was for alleged irregularities in partypromoted Young Indian which owns the National Herald newspaperThe Shiv Sena headed by Uddhav Thackeray shares power with NCP and Congress in Maharashtra Raut is the chief spokesperson of SenaRaut stated that the National Herald newspaper started by Nehru had lost its political significance long ago but the politics over it continuesWhen Jawaharlal Nehru started this newspaper in 1937 Mahatma Gandhi Vallabhbhai Patel and Nehru himself were its pillars The British feared this newspaper for its factual reporting and banned it between 1942 to 45 Raut saidThe newspaper wasnt started for monetary reasons but the ED has summoned Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi on charges of money laundering in this case he saidRaut stated that Nehrus soul was in the National Herald and he had told reporters never to write out of fearWhen someone said that the National Herald newspaper had become a headache for Congress despite being its mouthpiece Nehru got enraged and asked what do you want me to do Call the editor and ask him to praise everyone What is the use of the editor who only praises Raut said quoting NehruWhen National Herald was suffering losses Nehru even offered to sell his house Anand Bhavan the Shiv Sena leader said quoting anecdotes from the book of PD Tandon who was associated with the National Herald during Nehrus timeHe said Nehru ensured that Purshottam Das Tandons telephone bills are paid on time apprehending his arrest while visiting MumbaiTandon wrote that Nehru had ensured that his Tandons future bills would be reimbursed by Vijayalaxmi Pandit and Indira Gandhi Nehrus daughter and not by National Herald Raut statedDrawing similarities between Saamana and National Herald Raut said both the newspapers are not properties but are carriers of thoughts and principlesRaut said he had discussed the National Herald issue with Rahul Gandhi and some CongressmenThe case pertains to only repaying a loan which cannot be called money laundering It wouldnt be surprising if ED summons Nehru too in the case and pastes a notice on his memorial he statedRaut said that questions were also raised over PM CARES Fund and that certain financial transactions were executed by several institutions under Sangh ParivarThere was no need to stretch the case this far Congress might have made certain financial dealings to ensure that the legacy started by Nehru survived Such transactions are made by several institutions under Sangh Parivar Questions have also been raised over the PM Cares Fund and crores of rupees deposited in the BJP treasury he alleged and said Nehrus National Herald has been branded as criminalSome peoples souls will get peace only after notices of the CBI and the ED reach Pandit Nehru he saidThis story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed agencies Midday accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability trustworthiness reliability and data of the text Midday managementmiddaycom reserves the sole right to alter delete or remove without notice the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever