The Congress party on Thursday said that it was under a determined assault by the Prime Minister and his government to “cripple” it financially ahead of the Lok Sabha elections. Addressing a press conference today, Congress Parliamentary Party chairperson Sonia Gandhi said that a systematic effort was underway to cripple the Indian National Congress financially.
“Funds collected from the public are being frozen and money from our accounts is being taken away forcibly. However, even under these most challenging circumstances, we are doing our very best to maintain the effectiveness of our election campaign.
“On one hand, there is the Electoral Bond issue which has been declared unconstitutional by the Supreme Court. Electoral Bonds benefitted the BJP hugely. On the other hand, the finances of the principal opposition party – the INC – are under a determined assault. This, we all believe, is unprecedented and undemocratic,” Sonia Gandhi said in a brief statement.
The press conference was jointly addressed by Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, Congress treasurer Ajay Maken and party MP Rahul Gandhi in the presence of Jairam Ramesh, the general secretary in-charge of communications. The briefing came amid claims by the Congress that its bank accounts were frozen and it was unable to use its own money to contest the elections.
Speaking at the press meet, Wayanad MP Rahul Gandhi said that the frezzing of the party’s bank accounts amounts to a “crime” at the bbehest of the Prime Minister and Home Minister of India.
” the idea that India is a democracy is a lie. There is no democracy in India today. The idea that India is the world’s largest democracy is a lie. A complete lie. 20% of India votes for us and we are not able to pay Rs 2 for anything. It has been orchestrated to cripple us in the elections. Even if our bank accounts are unfrozen today, huge amount of damage has been done to Indian democracy,” Rahul said.
Rahul said that despite being the biggest Opposition party, it cannot book any adertisements or send its leaders anywhere since its accounts are frozen.
The outburst by the Congress leader came after the Income Tax department froze Congress’ bank accounts over a demand notice for recovery of Rs 105 crore in tax dues. The Congress challenged the demand notice at the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal and later, at the Delhi High Court, but failed to get any relief.
Hearing the Congress’ plea challenging an earlier decision by the ITAT that upheld the demand notice issued by the I-T department, the Delhi High Court on March 13 rejected the applicqation and rapped the party for its “poor handling” of the matter. A division bench of Justices Yashwant Varma and Purushaindra Kumar Kaurav said there was no reason to interfere with the ITAT order.
“As we read this order (ITAT order), the petitioner has itself to blame. The demand is of 2021…It seems you made no efforts to securitise the demand…Someone in petitioner’s office has remained asleep since 2021,” the court said.