The Congress party on Friday charged that the Income Tax department has frozen its four bank accounts and IT sleuths are demanding the party to pay Rs 210 crore as recovery.
Party treasurer Ajay Maken said, “We got information yesterday that banks are not honouring the cheque we are issuing. On further investigation, we got to know that the Youth Congress’ bank accounts have been frozen. The accounts of the Congress party have also been seized. Income tax has asked for Rs 210 crore recovery from Youth Congress and Congress party.”
Maken added that the crowdfunding money in their accounts has been frozen. “Just two weeks before elections when the opposition’s accounts are frozen, it is equivalent to freezing the democracy,” Maken charged.
He added that the party doesn’t have money to spend at the moment. “Right now we don’t have any money to spend, to pay electricity bills, to pay salaries to our employees. Everything will be impacted, not only Nyay Yatra but all political activities will be impacted,” ANI reported quoting Maken.
However, Congress party heaved a sigh of relief after the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal granted temporary relief and de-froze the party’s bank accounts on Friday. The Tribunal has scheduled the matter for hearing on Wednesday.
Party leader Vivek Tankha, who appeared before the tribunal against the order, said the party was now allowed to operate its bank accounts. Tankha said he told the tribunal that the Congress would not be able to participate in the “festival of elections” in case its accounts remain frozen.
Maken tweeted, “On our petition, Income Tax Department and the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal (ITAT) has said that we have to ensure that Rs 115 crore have to be kept in the Banks. This 115 crore is the lien marked in the Bank Accounts. We can spend an amount over and above that. This means that Rs 115 crore has been frozen. This Rs 115 crore is much more than we have in our Current Accounts.”
Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge said the action was a deep blow to democracy. “Intoxicated with power, the Modi government has frozen the accounts of the country’s largest opposition party – the Indian National Congress – just before the Lok Sabha elections. This is a deep blow to democracy,” he tweeted.
Kharge alleged, “The unconstitutional money that BJP has collected will be used in the elections, but the money we have collected through crowdfunding will be sealed. That is why we have said that there will be no elections in future! We appeal to the judiciary to save the multi-party system in this country and secure India’s democracy. We will take to the streets and fight strongly against this injustice and dictatorship.”
