Taking a Jibing at the central government for freezing the Congress party’s bank account weeks ahead of the Lok Sabha election, the grand old party asserted that BJP is undermining democracy in India. The grand old party on Friday alleged that four of its main bank accounts have been frozen by the Income tax department. However, just hours after their announcement, the accounts were unfrozen after the party filed an appeal with the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal (ITAT) in Delhi.
BJP wants to undermine democracy in India.#DemocracyUnderAttack pic.twitter.com/V2Hln8i7Gw
— Congress (@INCIndia) February 16, 2024
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi reminding the fierceness of the party to Prime minister, wrote on X in Hindi, “Don”t be afraid Modi ji, Congress is not the name of power of money but of power of people.” He further added that the party has never bowed down before dictatorship and will never bow down. He reminded that all the party workers will fight tooth and nail to protect India’s democracy.
डरो मत मोदी जी, कांग्रेस धन की ताकत का नहीं, जन की ताकत का नाम है।
हम तानाशाही के सामने न कभी झुके हैं, न झुकेंगे।
भारत के लोकतंत्र की रक्षा के लिए हर कांग्रेस कार्यकर्ता जी जान से लड़ेगा।#DemocracyUnderAttack
— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) February 16, 2024
Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge condemned the move and called it a “deep assault on India’s democracy”.
“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!” he added.
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 !
The UNCONSTITUTIONAL money collected by the BJP would be utilised by them…
— Mallikarjun Kharge (@kharge) February 16, 2024
Congress party general secretary K C Venugopal alleged that as the electoral bons scheme was struck down by the apex court yesterday, the BJP has chosen a new route. “The BJP has hoarded over Rs. 6500 crore through the illegal electoral bond scandal, which remain untouched – but the earnest donations of ordinary INC workers and supporters are frozen,” he added.
Not just the Congress party’s accounts, but India’s democracy has been frozen.
Barely a month before the 2024 elections, the Government chooses to stop the principal opposition party from carrying out ANY financial transactions – on totally flimsy grounds.
When one avenue to…
— K C Venugopal (@kcvenugopalmp) February 16, 2024
Former chief minister of Rajasthan, Ashok Gehlot reminded the people of the country that if a government can freeze the account of the opposition party then how “this dictatorial government will behave to the citizens”.
भाजपा के इशारे पर केन्द्रीय एजेंसियों ने कांग्रेस पार्टी के बैंक खातों को सील कर दिया है। इलेक्टोरल बॉन्ड घोटाला कर अपने बैंक खातों को भरने वाली भाजपा का डर जब कांग्रेस के नेताओं को तोड़कर भी खत्म नहीं हुआ तो कांग्रेस पार्टी की गतिविधियों को रोकने के लिए ऐसा तुच्छ कदम उठाया।…
— Ashok Gehlot (@ashokgehlot51) February 16, 2024
Congress leader Shashi Tharoor wrote, “This is shocking and utterly shameful-coming from the “Mother of Democracy”!”
This is shocking & utterly shameful — coming from the “Mother of Democracy”!
Congress alleges its bank accounts frozen, I-T dept asks for ₹210 cr recoveryhttps://t.co/arEZJcjOro
https://t.co/arEZJcjOro— Shashi Tharoor (@ShashiTharoor) February 16, 2024
Supreme Court Lawyer Prashanth Bhushan wrote, “After SC struck down Electoral Bonds, the Empire strikes back!”
After SC struck down Electoral Bonds, the Empire strikes back! https://t.co/w5nHH4H2ac
— Prashant Bhushan (@pbhushan1) February 16, 2024
Journalist Swathi Chaturvedi wrote on X that the “only thing the Modi government excels in is vendetta politics”. She claimed the freezing of the accounts “to be a reaction to the electoral bond judgement of the SC”. Swathi also slammed at main medias for not taking up the issue. “The thing about despotism is that it won’t stop at the Cong. It will reach you v soon & strategic silence won’t help. Shameful Indian media which has morphed in to a lap dog for Modi your job is to be a watchdog for democracy,” she added.
I notice the complete silence of the embedded press on the freezing of the Congress party’s bank accounts. The thing about despotism is that it won’t stop at the Cong. It will reach you v soon & strategic silence won’t help. Shameful Indian media which has morphed in to a lap dog…
— Swati Chaturvedi (@bainjal) February 16, 2024