Will Not Be Cowed Down: Congress Leader P Chidambaram On BJP's ‘Tax Terrorism’
Amidst the accusations of the BJP freezing the bank accounts of Congress, party leader P Chidambaram has weighed in on the issue. Describing “tax terrorism” as attempts made by the ruling BJP to cripple the opposition party, the former Finance Minister stated that the party will not be defeated by such actions.
P. Chidambaram took to X (formerly known as Twitter) and reaffirmed the accusations of the BJP freezing the accounts of the grand old party ahead of the Lok Sabha elections. He stated that the “pseudo efforts” and “gimmicky tactics” are being undertaken by the saffron party to harm Congress. However, he clarifies that the party was “not going to be cowed down” against the BJP.
Putting faith in the people, the Congress leader said that the party believes in the citizens of the country to respond accordingly to the BJP through their vote. “We believe that the people of this country will give all their answers to the BJP in the upcoming election,” he said.
In our democratic country, the biggest opposition party, Congress” bank accounts have been frozen by BJP just before the election.
This is nothing but the pseudo efforts are being made to financially cripple Congress, but we are not going to be cowed down against BJP with these…
— P. Chidambaram (@PChidambaram_IN) March 30, 2024
Mr. Chidambaram also shared a photo mocking the BJP, which stated the benefits of joining the party: freedom from raids, a certificate of “saaf aur shared insaan (clean and honest person),” access to government contracts, and a BJP ticket as a welcome gift.
— P. Chidambaram (@PChidambaram_IN) March 30, 2024
The Rajya Sabha MP also stated that while the ruling party was backed by funds from friends, the I-T department “conveniently targets the Congress with yet another demand of Rs 1800 crores,” highlighting Rs 8,250 crore the BJP mopped up through electoral bonds.
Country shaken by BJP”s 8,250 crore electoral bond scandal. While the ruling party gets backed with funds from their friends, the Income Tax department conveniently targets Congress with yet another demand of 1800 crores.#BJPTaxTerrorism
— P. Chidambaram (@PChidambaram_IN) March 30, 2024
Accusing the BJP of being involved in a multi-thousand crore scandal while other parties are slapped with hefty tax demands, Mr. Chidambaram stated, “Democracy demands transparency and fairness, not Tax Terrorism.”
How can we claim to have free and fair elections when one party is involved in a multi-thousand crore scandal, while the other faces hefty tax demands?
Democracy demands transparency and fairness, not Tax Terrorism.#BJPTaxTerrorism— P. Chidambaram (@PChidambaram_IN) March 30, 2024
On Friday, the Income Tax Department served a notice of Rs 1,800 crore to Congress. The income tax notice covers assessment years 2017–18 to 2020–21, including penalties and interest. The notice comes amidst the already cash-strapped party as the Income Tax authorities slammed the party with a penalty of Rs 200 crore and frozen the bank accounts ahead of the Lok Sabha elections.
