Unmesh Gujarathi
Sprouts Brand Story
The Enforcement Directorate has issued summons to Congress Interim President Sonia Gandhi in the “National Herald” money laundering case. Rahul Gandhi was questioned for nearly 6 days for the same matter.
Although the matter has cast gloom on the Gandhi family, the Congress leaders are unaffectedly exhibiting the tragedy of the national party.
Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru founded the National Herald in 1908. It was known as a mouthpiece of Congress. In fact, the newspaper is a legacy of Congress. But today the condition of this newspaper is pitiable like the Congress itself.
The Mumbai edition of the National Herald was launched on November 14, 2021. The edition is being run for the last 8 months. But no Congressman, including office bearers and workers, are aware of this newspaper.
The Maharashtra Vikas Aghadi (MVA) was in power in the state for the last two and half years. There have been four Congress cabinet ministers. However, none of the ministers, or leaders extended any financial help to the National Herald. They did not even pay the annual subscription to the newspaper, Sprouts Investigating Team has learned. Today the weekly edition of this newspaper is being run with great difficulty.
The weekly edition doesn’t cost much. But Maharashtra Congress leaders do not seem to be interested in making efforts to keep the weekly alive.
The condition of the Maharashtra Congress is similar to the National Herald. The leaders amassed black money enough for seven generations, in the name of ‘Gandhi’ at the national level and ‘Thackeray’ in Maharashtra.
However, with the dwindling features, the leaders turn their faces and join other parties. Balasaheb Vikhe Patil, Kripashankar Singh, and others joined the BJP and made their black money white. Barring a few exceptions, most of those who are in Congress today, have filled their coffers in the name of the party. However, no one helps the party when it is in a bad shape. Some are afraid of ED, while others remain silent under the pretext of ED.
Today Maharashtra Congress needs an able leadership. Although Nana Patole is aggressive his journey is Congress-BJP-Congress. As such the Congressmen do not consider him a loyal party man. He is viewed as a hopper and is not accepted by the ranks. Besides Patole’s close ties with BJP leader and Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis are commonly known.
The leaders like Balasaheb Thorat, Ashok Chavan, Amit Vilasrao Deshmukh and Yashomati Thakur have earned enough money. But they are not prepared to do anything for the party.
Their reach doesn’t extend beyond their taluka and cooperative banks. Today, their existence is restricted only to the extent of speaking through media. Their career prospers, but the condition of their party becomes vulnerable.
