Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Get Bail In Under 5 Minutes In National Herald Case: Live Updates

The Z security was given to me by Narsimha Rao government in 1993. The government accommodation was suggested by Central Reserve Police since my house was too small for the security personnel to stay in: BJP leader Subramanian Swamy

I will not be harassed. You can try, but you won't succeed: Congress leader P Chidambaram to BJP government

• The government is hiding its incompetence by resorting to misconduct against the Congress.
  

Congress-controlled not-for-profit body 'Young Indians' swaps loan for equity, happens everywhere. Not a single rupee used or distributed by it, says Former Union Minister P Chidambaram to NDTV

Read: National Herald Case: Congress Says Only Trying To Save 'Nehru's Paper'
With Sonia Gandhi and Rahul, its top leaders, getting bail in the National Herald case, the Congress took to Twitter and offered an elaborate defence in the case.

Read: After 5-Minute Hearing, Sonia And Rahul Gandhi's Show Of Strength
"I appeared in court as a law abiding citizen...with a clear conscience," said Sonia Gandhi at the Congress headquarters, adding, "The central government is misusing government agencies to target the opponents. We are not afraid. Our fight will continue. Our struggle for Congress policies and in the interest of the poor will continue."

Read: Congress Attacks BJP, Says Subramanian Swamy PM Narendra Modi's 'Mask'
The Congress today said Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his government were behind Subramanian Swamy's court case against party chief Sonia Gandhi and son Rahul Gandhi in the National Herald issue.

There was hardly any argument in court, says Oscar Fernandes
"We were asked to be there at 3'O clock. The magistrate came sharp at 3. We presented ourselves. There was hardly any argument. Swamy said we shouldn't be allowed to go out of the country without the permission of the court. The  court didn't uphold this," Oscar Fernandes, also an accused in the National Herald case, told NDTV's Sandeep Phukan.

"Congress and corruption, made for each other"
Launching a sharp attack on the Congress after party president Sonia Gandhi and vice president Rahul Gandhi appeared in court today, BJP's Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi said that "corruption and Congress were made for each other".

"When we say Congress-mukt bharat, we mean Corruption-mukt bharat
Unfortunately Congress and corruption are made for each other," Mr Naqvi said.

"You say the National Herald is you viraasat, it may be. So are all the scams and swindles in it. What does the BJP have to do with it? Its not as if the BJP has summoned you," he said.

"Their negative, arrogant attitude will come back to bite them. The country can see Congress still stands for corruption. It seems there may not be just something fishy about it but it's an entire fish," he said.

Read more here.

India will never be Congress-free: Rahul Gandhi
Modi ji wants Congress-mukt bharat (Congress-free India), That will never happen," said Rahul Gandhi.

Stand for values and ideals, says Manmohan Singh
"We will give a determined fight. We stand for certain values and ideas. No one can eject Congress party," said former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

Will not move an inch: Rahul Gandhi
"I respect the law. Modi ji puts false allegations and thinks the opposition will bend. I want to tell every citizen that we will not be scared. We will not move an inch," Rahul Gandhi said.

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Sonia Gandhi speaks to media
Congress president Sonia Gandhi spoke to reporters from the Congress headquarters after appearing in court in the National Herald case.

• Appeared in court like any law abiding citizen should
• These people can never remove us from our path
• Current government is purposely targeting opponents
• They are using government agencies
• We are not going to be scared
• Our struggle will continue

Sometimes they disappear: Swamy's dig at Rahul
Speaking to reporters, BJP leader Subramanian Swamy, the petitioner in the National Herald case, took a dig at Rahul Gandhi when explaining why he asked for travel restrictions against the Gandhis

"These people have a habit of disappearing..sometimes, they disappear for 57 days without giving notice," he said.

The reference is to Rahul Gandhi's much talked about break earlier this year.

BJP reacts to bail to given to Gandhis
Congress is projecting the Gandhis as if they are freedom fighters, said Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi

Sonia, Rahul reach Congress HQ
Sonia Gandhi and Rahul have reached the Congress party headquarters and are expected to address the media shortly.

Congress suporters wait for Sonia, Rahul
Scores of supporters line up at the Congress headquarters to meet Congress President Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi.

Read: Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Appear In Court, Granted Bail In National Herald Case
Congress President Sonia Gandhi and her son and deputy Rahul Gandhi were today granted bail in the National Herald case, minutes after they arrived at the Patiala House court.

Next date of hearing: February 20
-The next date of hearing in the National Herald case has been set as February 20, 2016.
-Former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh gave surety for Sonia Gandhi
-Priyanka Vadra gave surety for Rahul Gandhi

No apprehension that Gandhis will flee: Court
Granting bail the court said that there was no apprehension that Sonia and Rahul Gandhi will flee. Petitioner in the National Herald case, Subramanian Swamy had asked for restrictions on their travel.