The party leadership asked how the I-T department could enforce the lien on Tuesday, when the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal (ITAT) was set to hear its petition on Wednesday. Calling the action ‘undemocratic’ and ‘threat to multi-party system’, Congress hinted at taking legal recourse apart from its appeal at ITAT against the recovery.
“Concerns rise over actions of central government agencies, potentially threatening the multi-party system in India. If unchecked, democracy in India will be over. Without intervention of judiciary, our democratic principles will be endangered,” AICC treasurer Ajay Maken posted on X.
I-T mandated banks to transfer over ₹65 crore from account of the Congress party, Youth Congress and NSUI accounts – ₹5 crore from IYC and NSUI, and ₹60.25 crore from INC – to the government, marking a concerning move by the BJP government, Maken said.
“Is it common for national political parties to pay income-tax? No! Does BJP pay income-tax? No! Why then is Congress party facing an unprecedented demand of ₹210 crore,” Maken asked. He said during Wednesday’s ITAT proceedings, Congress side presented its case and that the hearing was set to continue on Thursday. “The funds in question were raised through grassroots efforts, including crowdfunding and membership drives by IYC and NSUI. This situation raises a crucial question about the state of democracy. Is it under threat? Our hope now lies with the judiciary,” he posted on X.
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