The Congress party on Thursday slammed the ruling BJP government in the Centre and charged that it has forced banks to transfer Rs 65.89 crore from its accounts as income tax. The party charged the BJP has hijacked the bank accounts of the principal opposition party in the country.
Congress secretary K.C. Venugopal said, “As per the latest information from the banks, the BJP government forced the banks to transfer approximately Rs 65.89 crore from our deposits to the government. This amount is from AICC and Indian Youth Congress account and NSUI. Unlike the BJP, we got this money from ordinary workers of the party. Just before the parliament elections, the account of the principal opposition party has been hijacked by the BJP government."
Venugopal charged BJP was stealing Congress’s money from the banks. “BJP is stealing our money from the banks,” he said. Venugopal questioned whether the BJP has paid any income tax for its funds or has it faced any such experience during previous Congress regimes.
“Whether BJP has given any income tax as a party. This is clearly an attack on democratic principles and values. And they're trying to shut the voice of India's opposition. This is clearly an example of dictatorship,” ANI reported quoting Venugopal.
The party’s treasurer Ajay Maken on Wednesday tweeted, “Yesterday, the Income Tax Department mandated banks to transfer over ₹65 crores from @INCIndia, IYC, and NSUI accounts to the government—₹5 crore from IYC and NSUI, and ₹60.25 crore from INC, marking a concerning move by the BJP Government.”
“Is it common for National Political Parties to pay Income Tax? No. Does the BJP pay Income Tax? No,” Maken charged. Maken said these funds were raised funds through grassroot efforts, including crowdfunding and membership drives by the IYC and NSUI.
The Income Tax department recently froze the bank accounts of Congress and demanded Rs 210 crore as recovery. However, its appellate tribunal de-froze the accounts later, pending trial.