Bengaluru (Karnataka) [India], May 25 (ANI): Karnataka Minister Priyank Kharge on Saturday criticised the Enforcement Directorate's probe against Rahul Gandhi in the National Herald case and said that the ruling party's sole motive is to keep the opposition 'under their thumb.'

Speaking to ANI, Priyank Kharge said, 'Their (ruling party) motive is to shut Rahul Gandhi, so that he may not ask questions. Their motive is to keep the opposition completely under their thumb.'

''Rahul Gandhi ko chup karana hi unka motive hai'. Rahul Gandhi should not ask questions. Kharge should not ask questions. Their only motive is to keep the opposition under their thumb, and that we should dance to their tunes,' Priyank Kharge told ANI.

Taking a swipe at the ruling party over the raids, Kharge said, 'Look at the timings. Just because Rahul Gandhi asked about the Pahalgam attack, just because he asked if you have outsourced the foreign policy to Donald Trump, asked why PM Modi is keeping quiet when Donald Trump is talking about Make in India, trade tariffs, ceasefire, instead of PM Modi, all these raids are happening.'

'When our party questioned about what happened to the terrorists who crossed 250 kilometres within the border, killed 26 people, and nobody knows where they are. Where is your James Bond, Ajit Doval? Where is our Home Minister Amit Shah? When we ask such questions, IT and ED raid us,' he added.

Reacting to the same, former Rajasthan Chief Minister and Congress leader Ashok Gehlot termed the Enforcement Directorate's probe against Rahul Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi in the National Herald case as 'deliberate' and one which has no meaning.

Speaking to the media, Gehlot said, 'An ED case has been filed deliberately against Rahul Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi, which has no meaning. False cases have been made; not even a rupee was transacted.'

'The BJP was not comfortable with Rahul Gandhi asking questions on Operation Sindoor, but he asked the same question, which is in the public's minds. It is the opposition's responsibility to raise the public's questions; this is democracy,' he said.

While, Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) working President KT Rama Rao questioned Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's silence on the National Herald case.

Speaking with the media at Telangana Bhavan, KTR said, 'Why is Rahul Gandhi not responding? Why is he not talking? Why is Mr. Rahul Gandhi silent on this issue? Please respond.'

Earlier on Wednesday, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) presented its opening arguments before Delhi's Rouse Avenue Court regarding the cognisance of its complaint against Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, and others in connection with a money laundering case linked to the National Herald.

In the opening submissions, Additional Solicitor General (ASG) S V Raju submitted that an offence of money laundering is made out in this case. He also submitted that there were proceeds of crime. It was also submitted that there was continuing criminal activity for the generation of proceeds of crime, which constitutes the offence of money laundering.

After hearing the opening submitted by ASG S V Raju and Special Counsel for ED Zoheb Hosain, the Special Judge listed the matter for remaining arguments from July 2 to July 8. Special judge Vishal Gogne listed the matter for day-to-day hearing on the point of cognisance of ED's Prosecution complaint against Gandhi and other accused persons.

The court listed the matter in July after hearing the submissions of defence counsel, who urged for a hearing in July, given voluminous documents totalling 5,000 pages. (ANI)