NEW DELHI: Congress leader Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi on Thursday attacked PM Modi over freezing of the party’s bank accounts.
Former Congress president Sonia Gandhi called the act “systematic efforts” to “cripple” the grand old party financially, terming it “unprecedented and undemocratic.”
“A systematic effort is underway by the Prime Minister to cripple the Indian National Congress financially”, she said.
“Funds collected from the public are being frozen and money from our accounts is being taken away forcibly”, she added.
Calling it an “assault on democracy”, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi said, “As the biggest opposition party, we are unable to take any action – we can’t book advertisements or send our leaders anywhere. This is an assault on democracy.”
Talking about the benefits BJP received from electoral bonds, Sonia said, “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.”
The comments came at a media briefing which was also attended by Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge along with Rahul Gandhi and Ajay Maken.
‘Criminal act done by PM, HM on Cong party’: Rahul Gandhi on freezing of bank accounts
Addressing the media, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi said that PM Modi and home minister Amit Shah had done a criminal act by freezing its bank accounts, terming the act “freezing of Indian democracy”. He further questioned the silence of the Election Commission over the issue.
“All our bank accounts have been frozen. We can do no campaign work, we cannot support our workers, we cannot support our candidates…This has been done two months before the election campaign,” he said.
“EC has not even said anything. Already, our ability to fight elections has been damaged, we have already lost a month,” he added.
Emphasizing the impact of cash crunch, Rahul said, “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 debt damage has been done to Indian democracy.”
‘Allow Congress to access bank accounts to ensure free and fair polls’
Appealing to the constitutional bodies to defreeze Congress’ bank accounts, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge said that parties in power should not have direct or indirect control over constitutional bodies.
“I appeal to constitutional bodies that they should allow our party to access bank accounts if they want free, fair polls”, Kharge said.
Taking a dig at the BJP, who received maximum funds through electoral bonds, he said, “Party in power amassed funds through electoral bonds while freezing our accounts to create hurdles for us in fighting polls”.
‘Not just an attack on Congress, but an attack on democracy’
Highlighting that political parties are exempted from income tax, Congress treasurer Ajay Maken said, “Why is Congress being penalised and that too just before elections?”
“Quantum of punishment is such that for .07% discrepancy, 106% penalty imposed on Congress…Rs 115 crore from our bank accounts will be transferred to I-T and govt,” he added.
He called the act “an attack on democracy in India.”
It comes after the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal (ITAT) on March 8 dismissed the plea moved by the Congress seeking a stay against action against freezing of its bank accounts.
