The Congress party claimed that its bank accounts have been frozen weeks ahead of the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. According to party leader Ajay Maken, information was received on Thursday indicating that banks were refusing to honour the party's issued checks. Upon further investigation, it was discovered that the bank accounts of the Youth Congress and the Congress party had been seized. "Income tax asked for Rs 210 crore recovery from Youth Congress and Congress party. The crowdfunding money in our accounts has been frozen. Just 2 weeks before elections when the opposition's accounts are frozen, it is equivalent to freezing the democracy," he added.
However, the accounts started working after the matter was heard by the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal (ITAT) on Friday.
Accounts frozen on 'flimsy grounds': Maken
Addressing a press conference, party treasurer Maken claimed that the Income Tax department has frozen the Congress' main bank accounts on "flimsy grounds". This has affected all political activity of the party, he added.
"For the first time in the country's history, accounts of the principal opposition party have been frozen by the tax authorities on flimsy grounds, barely two weeks before the announcement of general elections," Maken said, adding that the party has already appealed to the Income Tax appellate authority.
Initial relief to Congress
Today there was a hearing on this matter in the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal (ITAT). Congress leader and senior lawyer Vivek Tankha appeared on behalf of the party during the hearing. Tankha said Congress can operate its accounts with a lien of the IT Dept thereon as directed by ITAT Delhi. He further said a prayer for interim relief will be heard on February 21. It has been learnt that as many as nine accounts were frozen.
Kharge accuses Modi govt for this
Meanwhile, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge accused the central government of freezing the party's bank accounts. "Power drunk Modi Govt 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 assault on India's Democracy!" Kharge posted on X.
"The UNCONSTITUTIONAL money collected by the BJP would be utilised by them for elections, but the money collected by us through CROWDFUNDING shall be sealed!
That is why, I have said that there won't be any elections in the future (sic)," the post further read.
The Congress chief also appealed to the Judiciary to save the multi-party system in this country and protect India's Democracy. Kharge said the party will take to the streets and fight strongly against this "autocracy."
Lok Sabha elections 2024
It should be noted here that general elections are expected to be held in India between April and May to elect the members of the 18th Lok Sabha. The tenure of the 17th Lok Sabha is scheduled to end in the month of June. The previous general elections were held in April–May 2019. After the elections, the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance formed the government at the Centre, with Narendra Modi continuing as Prime Minister for the second straight term.
