Congress Alleges 'Account Frozen' Day After SC Strikes Down Electoral Bonds Scheme
This comes a day after the Supreme Court ruled that electoral bonds were 'unconstitutional', a move likely to harm the BJP and have an influence on other parties' fundraising.
Congress leader Ajay Maken on Friday stated that the party's bank accounts had been frozen. This comes a day after the Supreme Court ruled that electoral bonds were 'unconstitutional', a move likely to harm the BJP and have an influence on other parties' fundraising.
LIVE: Congress party briefing by Shri @ajaymaken at AICC HQ. https://t.co/QAKEqsUHNk
— Congress (@INCIndia) February 16, 2024
The freeze is due to a tax demand of Rs 210 crore lodged by the Income Tax department, which the Congress believes is politically motivated and intentionally timed to hamper the party's election preparations.'
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Addressing the media, Maken stated: "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 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."
#WATCH | Congress Treasurer Ajay Maken says "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… pic.twitter.com/JsZL1FEy9d
— ANI (@ANI) February 16, 2024
He further stated that Congress party has one bank account, and people will be able to deposit the money into the bank account.
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"However, after the accounts have been frozen, we will not able to take out the money," Maken stated.
Calling it a "deep assault on India's Democracy," Congress Chief Mallikarjun Kharge stated: "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."
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.
— Mallikarjun Kharge (@kharge) February 16, 2024
This is a deep assault on India's Democracy !
The UNCONSTITUTIONAL money collected by the BJP would be utilised by them…
"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. We appeal to the Judiciary to save the multi-party system in this country and protect India's Democracy. We will take to the streets and fight strongly against this autocracy," he further stated.
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