Senior Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi (File).
New Delhi:
The Congress on Wednesday claimed the Earnings Tax Division had withdrawn Rs 65 crore from three of its accounts – in the direction of a ”unprecedented” tax demand of Rs 210 crore – regardless of the declare presently being heard by the Earnings Tax Appellate Tribunal.
In a put up on X, Congress chief Ajay Maken identified nationwide political events had been exempt from paying earnings tax (although they do should file tax returns) and requested if the ruling Bharatiya Janata Celebration would additionally obtain comparable calls for.
”Yesterday, the Earnings Tax Division mandated banks to switch over Rs 65 crores from Indian Nationwide Congress, Indian Youth Congress, and Nationwide College students’ Union of India accounts to the federal government – Rs 5 crore from IYC and NSUI, and Rs 60.25 crores from INC, marking a regarding transfer by the BJP authorities,” he wrote.
”Is it frequent for nationwide political events to pay Earnings Tax? No. Does BJP pay Earnings Tax? No. Why then is the Congress Celebration dealing with an unprecedented demand of Rs 210 crore?” Mr Maken requested on X.
Yesterday, the Earnings Tax Division mandated banks to switch over ₹65 crores from @INCIndia, IYC, and NSUI accounts to the federal government—₹5 crores from IYC and NSUI, and ₹60.25 crores from INC, marking a regarding transfer by the BJP Authorities.
Is it frequent for Nationwide… pic.twitter.com/eiObPTtO1D
— Ajay Maken (@ajaymaken) February 21, 2024
”Throughout as we speak’s ITAT proceedings, we offered our case. The listening to is ready to proceed tomorrow.”
”Funds in query had been raised by grassroots efforts, together with crowdfunding and membership drives by IYC and NSUI. This raises a vital query about democracy. Is it beneath menace?” he continued.
”Our hope now lies with the judiciary… democracy can be over if probe businesses’ motion is unchecked.”
Final week the Congress discovered its predominant financial institution accounts frozen by tax officers. These had been, nevertheless, rapidly unfrozen by the tribunal pending the result of the listening to that started this afternoon.
READ | ”115 Crores Frozen, Do not Have That A lot”: Congress On Financial institution Accounts Row
The Congress hit out on the BJP and known as the tax notices ”politically motivated” and ”strategically timed to disrupt election preparations”. Mr Maken known as them a ”disturbing blow to the democratic course of”.
”Democracy does not exist; this is sort of a one-rule celebration, and the principal opposition celebration has been subjugated. We search justice from the judiciary, media, and the individuals,” the senior chief mentioned.
He mentioned the celebration submitted its 2018/19 monetary particulars (an election 12 months) 45 days late, however known as the freezing of the accounts an excessive measure, arguing there was no priority for such motion.
Mr Maken additional mentioned the timing of the freeze raised suspicions concerning the motives behind the motion.
”Proper now, we’ve got no cash to spend. Electrical energy payments, workers salaries… all the pieces is impacted. Take a look at the timing; that is clear,” he mentioned, ”We’ve got just one PAN, and the 4 accounts are all linked.”
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