Smriti Irani serves notice to Congress leaders, seeks written apology

Union minister Smriti Irani has served legal notice to Congress party through its president and leaders such as Pawan Khera and Jairam Ramesh and Ms Netta D'Souza and asked the Congress leaders to tender a written apology and withdraw the ‘malicious’ allegations against her daughter.

“An 18-year-old child, a college student, her character today was assassinated by Congress men at a Congress headquarters... her fault is that her mother fought the Lok Sabha election against Rahul Gandhi from Amethi in 2014, in 2019... her fault is that her mother, as has been said by the Congress spokesperson, does press conferences against Rahul Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi,” Irani had lashed out at  Congress and its leaders. 

The Minister has taken exception that her 18-year-old daughter was alleged of running a bar and non-veg eating outlet in Goa. 

Irani has asked the leaders to tender "a written unconditional apology" and withdraw the allegations with immediate effect. 

The Congress had, in a press conference, charged that the BJP leader's daughter was involved in running a bar in Goa, which got its excise licence illegally. The bar got two bar licences when regulations allow only one, the leaders claimed. 

However, reports said the RTI response which was made the basis of the Congress allegation does not mention name of Ms Irani's daughter.  

Shiv Sena MP Priyanka Chaturvedi on Saturday backed Irani. “18 year olds may not know the process is the punishment in acquiring licenses for running a restaurant in India, a young girl attempted something audacious in pursuit of her dreams,maybe erred, do not demonise. 

PS: I speak as a mother of a 19 year old& keeping my politics aside. (sic)," she wrote in a tweet without naming the union minister. Shiv Sena and the BJP have been former allies.

Priyanka Chaturvedi

Smriti Irani's legal notice issued by a law firm says - "All of you have conspired with each other and with other unknown individuals /organisations to launch a series of scathing and belligerent personal attack.....,".