Double standards of Congress

Two different yardsticks applied for same criteria

The much talked AgustaWestland case turned murkier towards Congress. The middleman Christian Michel was brought to India and yesterday Court granted 5 days CBI custody for further interrogation. The twist in this case is appointment of Congress leader  as his lawyer.  Mr.Aljo K Joseph who is acting as defence lawyer is all India Youth Congress leader.

It created lot of embarrassment to Congress and particularly to Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi. National media exposed this link thoroughly and its arch rival BJP well exploited the situation in exposing and targeting Congress. That too it happened two days before Rajasthan and Telangana Assembly elections. Of course in Telangana, thanks to partial media and also general lukewarm response to national issues by local population, the issue is not catchy to the eyes of voters much whereas in Rajasthan it definitely matters. Prime Minister Modi tried to encash it in his public speech.

Congress realised the gravity of the situation and sacked Mr Aljo K Joseph from Congress party. By this time, considerable damage has already been done. In the one sided election in Rajasthan where Vasundhara Raje is facing severe anti-incumbency, let us see  whether it creates any impact among voters.

 Double standards of Congress

Congress is playing its own mistakes one by one. In case of Ramalaya issue, it developed an argument that the defence in courts by lawyers is a private affair and it need not be taken as party view. In recent Supreme Court arguments with regard to Babri Masjid issue Kapil Sibal appeared on behalf of All India Muslim Personal Board and argued to postpone the case beyond 2019 general elections. It evoked lot of criticism from Hindu sections that too in the background of soft Hindutva stand taken by its President Rahul Gandhi. However Congress took a stand that Kapil Sibal argued in individual capacity and being legal practitioner professional ethics only followed and in no way related to Congress party though he is a senior Congress leader and Rajya Sabha MP from Congress.

Now in case of Aljo K Joseph, the same argument is not followed. As it is directly damaging Gandhi family, he was suspended from party for taking up the case as a professional practitioner. It is nothing but double standards. It is nothing but over reaction under guilty conscious. It should have been boldly faced the criticism and maintained the stand that professional practice of lawyer can not be restricted and distanced from his arguments as if they are his own, not of party. Instead by suspending him, the party opened the gates for its stand on Babri Masjid case by Kapil Sibal. Now Congress party has to answer on its past stand.

- Ram