Nearly an hour after Congress claimed the income tax department had frozen its bank accounts and a recovery of Rs 210 crore was demanded, the accounts were unfrozen after the party filed an appeal with the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal (ITAT) in Delhi.
Alleging that democracy in India has completely ended, Congress Treasurer Ajay Maken on Friday said the party had received information that the banks were not honouring the cheques that the party was issuing. When the party inquired about the matter, it was allegedly informed that all the accounts were frozen.
“Congress party’s accounts have been frozen…Democracy has been frozen,” Maken said, adding that both Congress and Youth Congress accounts have been frozen.
Also Read: Congress claims bank accounts frozen over Rs 210 crore demand by Income Tax department
“What does the government want to show by freezing the accounts of the main Opposition party just a few weeks before the announcement of elections?” Maken asked. He added that the grounds on which the accounts were frozen were laughable.
The freeze reportedly stemmed from a tax demand of Rs 210 crore raised by the Income Tax department, a move that the Congress claimed was politically motivated and strategically timed to disrupt the party’s election preparations.
“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 said earlier in the day.
Congress demanded that the BJP’s accounts should be frozen for having unconstitutional bonds.