Sonia defends Belgian award in letter to EC

Congress President Sonia Gandhi is learnt to have written a letter...

Congress President Sonia Gandhi is learnt to have written a letter to the Election Commission on Thursday after reports of EC issuing a notice to her on the Belgian award row appeared in a section of press recently.

Earlier, a petition was filed with the EC seeking action against her for receiving the ‘Order of Leopold’ from the Belgium Government in 2006.

According to party sources, Sonia Gandhi had clarified to the EC that she had not done anything wrong by accepting the Belgian civilian honour as it was not a violation of the Constitution.

Story continues below this ad

Even in the past, noted personalities had been honoured by foreign governments. Politicians like former Prime Minister Morarji Desai and Biju Patnaik were offered civilian honours of foreign nations, they said.

The Belgian honour was a civilian honour and not a title. In fact, that country’s Prime Minister had lauded Sonia for her contribution to the Indian democracy and its multicultural society.

Although Sonia had already sent her clarification to the Election Commission, Congress spokesperson Abhishek Manu Singhvi said on Thursday that the party president was yet to receive any notice from the EC in this regard. Nevertheless, Singhvi said that there was a motivated campaign to sensationalise the issue.

Rs 80 paid for every fraud voter deletion application in Aland seat, finds Karnataka SIT

Political Pulse8 min ago

Karnataka Police SIT uncovers voter deletion scam in Aland seat, with data centre operator paid Rs 80 for each fraudulent application. BJP leader Subhash Guttedar's properties raided, evidence found of data centre operated by Md Akram and Ashfaq. Investigation ongoing.

View all shorts

Live Blog

PHOTOS