The Truth About AJL – Young Indian Case
Panjim :- The Enforcement Directorate’s chargesheet filed on April 9, 2025 – on the very last day of the 365-day window – is not a legal action based on facts, but a politically motivated attempt to harass the leadership of the Indian National Congress. This move reflects the desperation, vindictiveness, and moral bankruptcy of the Modi government.
I wish to clarify and reiterate the facts regarding the AJL – Young Indian matter:
• *Associated Journals Ltd (AJL)* was founded by Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, Rafi Ahmad Kidwai, and Purushottam Das Tandon to publish National Herald – a newspaper that served as the voice of India’s freedom struggle. It was banned by the British for its fearless journalism.
• AJL had accumulated heavy debt over time. Between 2002 and 2011, the Congress Party gave AJL a loan of ₹90 crore through over 100 documented bank transactions to help clear dues like VRS, PF, taxes, and electricity bills.
• To revive AJL’s operations, *Young Indian* was created, and the loan was converted into equity – a process that is completely legal and commonly used even by the government in the NCLT framework.
• *Young Indian is a not-for-profit company under Section 25* of the Companies Act. It cannot and has not distributed any profits, salaries, or dividends to its shareholders – who were Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, Oscar Fernandes, and Motilal Vora in their respective capacities as party leaders.
• Young Indian did not take over AJL. All assets and revenues remain with AJL. Any rent or income goes to AJL, not to Young Indian or its shareholders.
• The claim that AJL owns ₹5000 crore worth of properties is completely false. Even the Income Tax Department assessed AJL’s assets at only ₹359 crore.
• AJL’s 700 shareholders approved the debt-equity conversion through a proper Extraordinary General Meeting.
*Timeline of Political Harassment:*
• Subramanian Swamy filed this case in 2013. After he began criticizing the Modi-Shah leadership post-2020, the government itself escalated the case.
• The ED filed its chargesheet exactly on the 365th day after issuing its provisional attachment order in April 2024, exposing the absence of any real evidence over 11 years.
This entire episode is a classic example of vendetta politics aimed at silencing Congress leaders who continue to question the Modi government on real issues – unemployment, inflation, corporate corruption, and rising social injustice.
Let me make it clear: *Rahul Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi are not just leaders; they represent the spirit of sacrifice, struggle, and service to the nation.* Their family’s blood is in the soil of this country. They will not be silenced by political witch-hunts.
The Indian National Congress will continue to speak fearlessly for every Indian – against hatred, injustice, and authoritarianism.
