The Communist Party of India (CPI) acknowledged receiving a notice from the Income Tax Department concerning discrepancies arising from the utilization of old PAN cards by certain state units of the CPI, as revealed by CPI General Secretary D Raja.
In response to queries regarding any specific monetary notice from the Income Tax (IT) Department, Mr. Raja clarified to ANI, stating, “They did not receive any notice from IT in regard to money.”
This development unfolds as the IT Department issues a demand notice of approximately ₹ 1700 crore to the Congress party, according to sources. This demand notice, encompassing penalties and interest, pertains to assessment years spanning from 2017-18 to 2020-21.
The Delhi High Court recently dismissed the party’s petition challenging the initiation of reassessment proceedings by the Income Tax Department for the aforementioned assessment years.
In light of these developments, the Congress party is set to stage a nationwide protest on Saturday against the notices issued by the income-tax department, urging the party to remit ₹ 1,823 crore.
Congress General Secretary KC Venugopal has directed all state units to conduct demonstrations at Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) and district Congress Committee headquarters.
Addressing the unfolding scenario, Mr. Venugopal expressed concerns over what he deemed as an “attack on democracy” and labeled the actions of the Income Tax Department as “tax terrorism” amidst the crucial Lok Sabha elections.
He underscored the need for robust protest demonstrations at various levels to denounce what he perceived as an undemocratic onslaught on the party’s financial stability.
Earlier, the Congress party accused the Income Tax Department of adopting double standards, alleging discriminatory treatment compared to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) regarding tax violations.
Congress leaders Jairam Ramesh and Ajay Maken highlighted discrepancies in the treatment meted out to the two political parties, emphasizing a perceived bias against the Congress.
Mr. Maken raised concerns over the financial implications of the notices, stressing the need for impartiality and a level-playing field ensured by the Election Commission.
Moreover, the Delhi High Court’s decision to uphold the ITAT order regarding the Income Tax notice against the Congress party further underscores the legal battle ensuing between the party and the tax authorities.
The Congress party has lodged an appeal with the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal (ITAT) against the recovery measures initiated by the Income Tax Department, seeking redressal and a stay on the proceedings.
The unfolding saga between the Income Tax Department and the Congress party continues to evolve, marking a significant chapter in the political landscape of the country.
