SC order in Herald case "slap" on the face of Congress: BJP

NEW DELHI: BJP today termed the Supreme Court order in the National Herald case as "a slap on the face" of the Congress leadership after it refused to interfere with the criminal proceedings against them before the lower court.

The party also observed that the exemption given to Congress chief Sonia Gandhi and her deputy Rahul Gandhi from personal appearance in the trial court was conditional as the Supreme Court ruled that the trial court can summon them when required.

"It is a big blow (to Congress) and a slap on the face of those who had gone to the court with a plea that the case be quashed. The apex court has maintained that they will face trial as accused in the case," party national secretary Shrikant Sharma said.

Sharma said Congress should now introspect, alleging that the opposition party had stalled Parliament in the last session over the case and targeted Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

"We hope that wisdom dawns on Congress and it lets Parliament function in the Budget Session," he said. The session starts from February 23.