After the Congress alleged that the party has received fresh notices from the income-tax department, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Friday said that if Congress is not paying the taxes, it means they are against “welfare activities, poor and the downtrodden.”
Accusing the Income Tax Department of double-standards, Congress on Friday alleged that while it has been penalised for “a violation of Rs 14 lakh”, the income tax authorities were completely silent on “Rs 42 crore violation” by the BJP and that the violations by the ruling party at the Centre entailed a penalty of Rs 4,600 crore.
“Somebody denying tax to the government is denying benefits to the poor…Tax money goes to the public welfare. If Congress is not paying the taxes, it means they are against welfare activities, poor and the downtrodden,” Assam CM told reporters
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi said that when they come to power, they will take “strict action” against those trying to “murder the democracy.”
“When the government changes, action will definitely be taken against those who ‘murder the democracy’! And such action will be taken that no one will have the courage to do all this again. This is my guarantee,” Rahul Gandhi said in a post on X (formerly Twitter).
Meanwhile, Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge said that Congresspersons are never afraid and the party would fight the elections with our full might.
Kharge further said that the Congress party would free the country’s institutions from the BJP dictatorship.
Congress leader Jairam Ramesh said that the party will hold a protest against the continuing tax terrorism of the “Modi government”.
“To protest against the continuing tax terrorism of the Modi Government on @INCIndia, all Pradesh Congress Committees (PCCs) will be holding massive public demonstrations at the state and district headquarters tomorrow and the day after. Senior leaders and party functionaries will be participating. Here is the circular issued by the GS Organisation @kcvenugopalmp in this regard, and the Background Note to AICC Treasurer @ajaymaken’s Press Conference today,” Jairam posted on X.
Addressing a press conference, Congress leaders Jairam Ramesh and Ajay Maken said there was an attempt to stifle the party financially during the Lok Sabha polls.
Maken said the Election Commission should ensure a level-playing field.
“We have received notices from the time of Sitaram Kesari, from 1993-94… We have been demanded to pay Rs 53 crores from the time of Sitaram Kesari. A total of Rs 1823 crores has been made by the IT department from Congress,” he said.
“We have analysed all violations of the BJP using the same parameters they used to analyse our violations… BJP has a penalty of Rs 4600 crore. The income Tax department should raise a demand from the BJP for the payment of this amount,” he added.
Party leader KC Venugopal accused the Election Commission of being a mute spectator.
“Notice, account freeze, notice, account freeze. That is the BJP’s modus operandi of stifling INC financially. In a new bizarre notice, a penalty of Rs. 1800 crore has been imposed on INC.Is this how a fair election is supposed to be conducted? Is the idea of a level playing field only on paper? Why is the Election Commission a mute spectator to this?” he asked.
“If the same treatment was meted out to the BJP, they should have to pay Rs. 4600 crore. But has there been any action on them? Have any of the authorities involved moved an inch against them? This is a blatant murder of democracy and we will protest across the country against this illegal action,” he added.
