The Congress on Friday claimed that the party’s bank accounts, including those of the Youth Congress, have been frozen by the Income Tax department, weeks ahead of the announcement of dates for the Lok Sabha elections.
Congress Treasurer Ajay Maken, while addressing a press conference on Friday, made the big claim and described the move as a “disturbing blow to the democratic process”.
“We got information yesterday that banks are not honouring the cheques we are issuing. On investigating further, we got to know that the Youth Congress bank accounts have been frozen. The accounts of the Congress party have also been frozen,” Maken said.
Also Read: Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra: Tejashwi Yadav joins Rahul Gandhi in Bihar’s Sasaram
The freeze reportedly stems from a tax demand of Rs 210 crore raised by the Income Tax department, a move that the Congress claims is politically motivated and strategically timed to disrupt the party’s election preparations.
“Right now we don’t have any money to spend, to pay electricity bills, to pay salaries to our employees. Everything will be impacted, not only Nyay Yatra but all political activities will be impacted…” Maken said.
“The accounts of the Congress party have also been frozen. Income tax asked for Rs 210 crore recovery from Youth Congress and Congress party. The crowdfunding money in our accounts has been frozen. Merely two weeks or just a week before the election announcement, when the Opposition’s accounts are frozen, it is equivalent to freezing the democracy,” Maken added.
Also Read: Another blow for INDIA? Farooq Abdullah’s National Conference to contest Lok Sabha elections alone
“Democracy doesn’t exist; this is like a one-rule party, and the principal opposition party has been subjugated. We seek justice from the judiciary, media, and the people,” Maken told the media.
The development comes just months ahead of the Lok Sabha polls, and a day after the Supreme Court scrapped the Centre’s electoral bonds scheme of anonymous political funding, calling it “unconstitutional”.