In rare presser with Kharge and Rahul, Sonia Gandhi alleges ‘systematic effort by PM to cripple Congress financially’

Congress treasurer Ajay Maken claimed that the party’s 11 accounts in four banks have been frozen. “For a notice for financial year 2017-18, a lien on Rs 210 crore was marked in our 11 accounts in 4 banks. The reason given is, that Rs 14.49 lakh was received in cash (as donations made by our MPs to the Congress party), out of total receipt of Rs 199 crore. This cash component is just 0.07 per cent of the total donations. And the punishment was 106 per cent,” he said.

“Look at the timing of the freezing of our accounts. We received the Rs 199 crore donation in 2017-18, but after 7 years, on February 13, 2024, Rs 210.25 crore lien was marked…our bank accounts were virtually sealed, and later, Rs 115.32 crore was forcibly confiscated,” he said. The lien, he said, was marked in such a way, that it not only sealed Rs 210 crore, but also prevented the party from using its deposited amounts of Rs 285 crore.

“This virtually crippled the finances of the principal Opposition party,” he said.

Rahul said institutions in the country that are supposed to protect the democratic framework like the courts and the Election Commission also have remained mute spectators. “Already our ability to fight the election has been damaged. We have already lost a month. We are unable to get slots for advertising. We are unable to put ads in newspapers. So what sort of a democracy is this? This is a criminal action on the Congress party done by the prime minister and the home minister. This type of activity does not happen without them in today’s India,” Rahul said.

“The idea that India is a democracy is a lie. There is no democracy in India today. The idea that India is the world’s largest democracy..it is a lie. It is a complete lie. Twenty per cent of India votes for us and we are not able to pay Rs 2 for anything. And it is being orchestrated to cripple us in the elections.

“Even if our bank accounts are unfrozen today… a huge amount of damage has been done to Indian democracy…no court is saying anything… election commission is not saying anything..no institution is not saying anything…media is not saying anything…it is ridiculous.”

“It is the duty of all the institutions of this country..duty of the people of this country…you are being robbed of your most important asset… you are being robbed of your Constitution, democratic structure…entire architecture and everybody is just quiet,” Rahul said.

Maken said the party received a fresh notice from the Income Tax Department for the financial year 1993-94 last week. “Sitaram Kesari was the treasurer then. We are being asked to calculate penal charges for the financial year 1993-94 after 31 years of the assessment,” he said.

Congress president Kharge said political parties do not come under the purview of income tax. He asked whether the BJP or any other political party had ever paid income tax.

Sonia said a “systematic effort is underway by the prime minister to cripple the Congress financially.”

“Funds collected from the public are being frozen, and money from our accounts is being taken away forcibly. However, even under these most challenging circumstances, we are doing our best to maintain the effectiveness of our election campaign. On the one hand, there is the electoral bond issue, which has been declared unconstitutional by the Supreme Court. The electoral bonds have benefited the BJP hugely. On the other hand, the finances of the principal Opposition party, the INC, are under a determined assault. This is truly unprecedented,” she said.

Kharge said there is no level playing field in the country in terms of fighting elections.

“Defreeze our accounts to ensure a level playing field in polls,” he demanded.