Congress holding democracy to ransom over Herald case, says Arun Jaitley

New Delhi: Accusing Congress of holding democracy to ransom over the National Herald case, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley on Saturday said the government has no role in the issue and will wait for court verdict before taking any action.

Without naming Congress president Sonia Gandhi or Rahul Gandhi, Jaitley said the Congress leaders have got stuck in a 'chakravyu' created by their own deeds and are now obstructing Parliament for it.

The government, he said, "will wait for the outcome of court proceeding. If there is a tax angle, then taxation authorities will ask questions for which there is a due process".

If anyone has an issue with tax authorities, they can go in for appeal, he added.

"That action has so far not been taken. ED has not issued any notice. Tax authorities have not passed any assessment order," he said.

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Rejecting suggestions that there was bitterness to the extent of enmity between the government and the opposition, he said "there is no enmity".

There are issues on which Parliament is unanimous and on others it differs. "In this case, what step has the government of India taken for which Parliament can be obstructed," Jaitley asked.

"What is the reason for obstructionism today. That some private complaint is filed, a magistrate issues notice, you move the High Court and High Court grants you a stay. After hearing, the High Court dismisses it. Now you either go to trial court or you challenge it in Supreme Court. Government has not interfered in it," he said.

Jaitley said the provocation for the Congress to stall the Parliament where the crucial GST bill is pending, was that the party leaders are not able to come out the 'chakravyu' they have created.

"And their lawyers are not able to help them and finding themselves in difficulty, they are holding the democracy of the country to ransom," he said.

He said he would not like to comment on the issue that is under investigation.