"No Level Playing Field": Congress Flags Electoral Bonds, Frozen Accounts
The Congress today strongly criticised the Modi government for creating a situation where there is no ‘level playing field’ for the opposition parties. In a scathing rebuke, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge said that while the BJP pocketed thousands of crores through electoral bonds, a scheme declared unconstitutional by the Supreme Court, its own bank accounts were frozen severely impeding its ability to fight the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.
“There should be a level-playing field for all,” Kharge said at a press conference accusing the Centre for creating hurdles for the party.
Kharge highlighted the disproportionately large share of donations accrued by the BJP through the electoral bonds scheme, a staggering 56 percent compared to the Congress”s meager 11 percent.
Echoing Kharge”s sentiments, Congress Parliamentary Party Chairperson Sonia Gandhi condemned the freezing of Congress party accounts by the government alleging a systematic effort to cripple the party financially.
“The issue we are taking up today is extremely serious. This issue affects not just the Indian National Congress, but our democracy itself, most fundamentally. A systematic effort is underway by the Prime Minister to cripple the Indian National Congress financially. Funds collected from the public are being frozen and money from our accounts is being taken away forcibly,” she said.
The former Congress chief was referring to the Income Tax Department”s freezing of Rs 115 crore from its accounts following a tax demand of Rs 210 crore as dues and penalty for the financial year 2018-19.
Congress leader Ajay Maken had earlier revealed that the Income Tax department had withdrawn Rs 65 crore from three of the party”s accounts. This occurred while the matter was still being adjudicated by the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal, which had earlier declined the party”s plea to halt the department”s actions against its bank accounts.
Addressing these challenges head-on, Sonia Gandhi emphasized the party”s unwavering commitment to maintaining the integrity of its election campaign amid adversity.
“On the one hand there is the electoral bond issue, which has been declared unconstitutional by the Supreme Court. The electoral bonds have benefited, as everyone knows, the BJP hugely, massively. On the other hand, the finances of the principal opposition party are under a determined assault. This, we all believe is unprecedented and undemocratic,” she added.
Rahul Gandhi said it is difficult to imagine when the financial identity of anyone is erased. The party’s bank accounts have been frozen just ahead of the Lok Sabha polls, and because of this, the party is unable to campaign. Gandhi accused PM Modi and Amit Shah of “criminal action” against the Congress. He said how 20% of those who voted in the 2019 polls, voted for the Congress, and yet, today, party leaders don”t have money to travel.
“In the absence of money, our leaders cannot travel. We can’t even buy train tickets. We cannot think of advertisements or running campaigns,” the Wayanad MP said.
There are institutions in the country that are supposed to protect the democratic framework, but they aren’t doing their job, he said. The Election Commission of India has not intervened in this matter and this is not possible without the connivance of the PM and the Union Home Minister, alleged Rahul Gandhi.
“There is no democracy in India today,” he concluded.
