Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge condemned the freezing of bank accounts just before the Lok Sabha elections as an attack on Indian democracy.
According to the Congress party, the Income Tax department has frozen four of its main bank accounts on what they describe as “flimsy grounds.” Among these accounts is that of the Indian Youth Congress. Ajay Maken, the Congress treasurer, stated that the freeze stems from an Income Tax demand of ₹210 crore for the year 2018-19, which was an election year. He noted that Congress had filed its Income Tax return for that year a few days late, leading to this action.
Maken expressed concerns about the implications of this freeze, stating that it affects the party’s ability to manage expenses, settle bills, and pay salaries. He highlighted that this action comes just two weeks before elections, equating it with an attack on democracy.
Despite these claims, Congress Rajya Sabha MP Vivek Tankha later announced that the party had received interim relief from the Income Tax Appellate Authority, which allowed them to operate their accounts with certain restrictions. Tankha added that the tribunal would further examine the case on Wednesday.
Mallikarjun Kharge criticized the freezing of accounts as a severe blow to Indian democracy, especially considering it happened just before the elections. He accused the Modi government of trying to stifle opposition by targeting the Congress party’s funds, contrasting it with what he described as unconstitutional funding collected by the BJP.
In response, Rahul Gandhi accused the Modi government of orchestrating the Income Tax department’s actions and reassured that Congress would stand firm in defending democracy, asserting that the party’s strength lies in its people and not monetary power.
