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| Friday, 6 February 2004 |
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Sonia: clearing of husband Rajiv ends 17-year ordeal NEW DELHI, Thursday (AFP) Sonia Gandhi, widow of assassinated Indian prime minister Rajiv Gandhi, said a court ruling clearing her husband of wrongdoing in the country's biggest arms scandal has ended a 17-year-ordeal. Sonia, leader of the main opposition Congress Party, said political opponents had heaped indignities on her family by pressing charges against her husband in the 1.3-billion-dollar arms bribery affair dating back to 1986. "We have gone through 17 years of abuse, vilification and worst type of character assassination," Gandhi was quoted by press reports Thursday as telling reporters in New Delhi. The ruling vindicating Rajiv Gandhi comes at a crucial time for the Congress Party, as India heads into elections expected around April-May. The Delhi High Court ruled Wednesday there was not a "scintilla of evidence" showing wrongdoing in the deal by Gandhi or by the late former defence secretary, S.K. Bhatnagar. "Since the first accusation to the last indignity inflicted (by the BJP-led coalition government) by placing my husband's name on the charge sheet, I have never felt more proud and honoured to be the wife of such a man," his widow said, choking back tears. |
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