PM is trying to crush Congress financially: Sonia
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is making a “systematic effort” to cripple the Congress financially and deny a level playing field in the Lok Sabha election, Congress Parliamentary Party Chairperson Sonia Gandhi alleged on Thursday.
At a press conference, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, former party chief Rahul Gandhi, and Ms. Gandhi mounted an allout attack on the Union government and the BJP over the Income Tax Department’s action to restrict the operation of its bank accounts, following a tax dispute.
Mr. Kharge demanded that the government immediately “defreeze” his party’s bank accounts, while Mr. Gandhi claimed the idea that “India is the world’s largest democracy is a complete lie”.
“A systematic effort is under way by the Prime Minister 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 best to maintain the effectiveness of our election campaign,” Ms. Gandhi said.
Ms. Gandhi said the BJP had “hugely benefited” from the nowscrapped electoral bond scheme, while the Congress’s financial capabilities were under a “determined assault”.
“[This] affects not just the Indian National Congress, it impacts our democracy itself most fundamentally...This is truly unprecedented,” she said.
‘BJP looted our funds’
Congress treasurer Ajay Maken said,” The BJP has looted donations given to our party by the common public by freezing our accounts and forcibly withdrawing ₹115.32 crore from them”.
In February, the IT Department had put a lien on 11 accounts of the Congress, as penalty over discrepancies in filing tax returns for 201819, which affected the party’s operations. Mr. Maken said the IT Department had now sent a fresh notice, seeking details pertaining to 199394 when Sitaram Kesri was the Congress president.
Describing the IT action as “a criminal action against the Congress by the Prime Minister and Home Minister”, Mr. Gandhi said, “There is no democracy in India today and the idea that India is the world’s largest democracy is a complete lie.”
“All of you can imagine what happens when your bank account, your ATM card and your entire financial identity is erased. If this happens to a family, they will starve to death. If this happens to a business, they will be crippled. This is what they are doing to the Congress,” he added.
Mr. Gandhi wondered why independent institutions, be it courts, the Election Commission or the media, preferred to be silent and hasn’t intervened. “There are institutions that are supposed to protect the democratic framework but nothing is happening, he said. “About 20% of India votes for us and we are not able to pay even ₹2 for anything. We can’t book slots for advertisement or even buy a rail ticket for our leaders to travel. Our ability to fight elections has been damaged.”
Mr. Kharge said a dangerous game was being played out that put a question mark on the ability to hold impartial elections. “I appeal to the constitutional authorities to ensure free and fair elections. Our accounts should be allowed to function normally,” he said.