NEW DELHI, Feb. 22, 2023 (TBINN)
Congress today accused the Centre of indulging in “tax terrorism” against it and alleged that the government “looted” over Rs 65 crore from its accounts to financially cripple the principal Opposition party ahead of Lok Sabha polls.
Congress also alleged that Bhartiya Janta Party was attempting to “murder democracy” and drag the country to a “dictatorship raj”.
Addressing a press conference at the A.I.C.C. headquarters along with K.C. Venugopal and Ajay Maken, Congress general secretary in-charge communications Jairam Ramesh said “tax terrorism attacks” were being carried out against the party.
Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge said in a post on Social Media, “An autocratic Modi Government is capturing democracy through extortion and financial terrorism.”
Mallikarjun Kharge alleged that the Modi Government “hoodwinked” nationalised banks to transfer Rs 65 crore of the donation received by the Congress and seized it through Income Tax. “Has the B.J.P. ever paid Income Tax? Looting Opposition and blackmailing donors to fill B.J.P.’s coffers is a dark phase for our democracy. We shall fight this tooth and nail – Both in the court of law and in the court of the people,” Mallikarjun said.
“A conspiracy is being hatched to make the Congress financially crippled. This is an attempt to murder democracy,” Ramesh alleged, adding that this is politics of vendetta..He also said that the action shows that the B.J.P. Government is rattled by the Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra, the farmers’ movement and rising inflation.
Jairam also said demonetisation was done just before the Assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh, because the Modi Government wanted that parties should not be able to contest elections. Similarly, before the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, Opposition parties have been ‘attacked’, he added.
Ajay Maken said the B.J.P.-led Centre had “looted” about Rs 65 crore from its accounts through Income Tax Department.
He said this is an attempt by the Government to cripple the Congress party financially ahead of the Lok Sabha elections so that it is not able to fight polls.
Bhartiya Janta Party Government has started “financial terrorism” against the principal Opposition party, he alleged.
There are five accounts from which this money has been withdrawn, he claimed.
Congress general secretary, organisation, Venugopal, said this action amounts to “attack on democratic principles and values”.
“They (government) are trying to shut the voice of the Opposition. This type of low-level attack has never happened in history. We will fight it out,” he said, adding that they will go to masses and xpose the government’s actions.
“Clearly this is an example of dictatorship. The B.J.P. is dragging the largest democracy in the world to a ‘dictatorship raj’,” K.C. Venugopal charged.
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