New Delhi:

Faced with an “unprecedented” demand of Rs 210 crore from the Income Tax Department just weeks before the general elections, the Congress has accused the Narendra Modi government of “financial terrorism”, “stealing money” and trying to “paralyze” its primary opposition. have put. A few weeks before the elections.

It said the Income Tax Department found flaws in returns for financial year 2017/18; Officials said one per cent of the total voluntary contributions for this period were in cash, and exceeded the limit of Rs 2,000.

“(But) how reasonable is a total demand of Rs 210 crore for a violation of only Rs 14.49 lakh (even if true)?” Congress asked, pointing to the timing of the tax notice.

“We filed our returns on February 2, 2019… the withdrawal of our money took place after five years… two weeks before the election was announced.”

Congress leader Ajay Maken said on Thursday, ‘We will get our money back, but by then the elections will be over.’ General secretary KC Venugopal condemned the “attempt to suppress the opposition”.

“Has income tax ever been taken from political parties? It is not income…that is why tax is never taken. And, when BJP has never paid income tax, why should it be taken from Congress?” Mr. Maken asked.

A day earlier, he had said that despite an appeal in the Income Tax Tribunal, tax officials had withdrawn Rs 65 crore from the accounts operated by the main party and student and youth wings.

Elaborating on yesterday’s claim, the Congress this morning said the BJP government had “forced our party’s bankers to transfer about Rs 65.89 crore from our deposits…”

Read | “Rs 65 crore transferred”: Congress’s Ajay Maken criticizes Center in tax row

The Congress said the money had been withdrawn from State Bank of India accounts run by the Youth Congress and the National Students Union of India and three other accounts run by the main party.

“Unlike BJP, this is money given by Indian National Congress workers, membership fees of Indian Youth Congress and students of NSUI… This illegal act was done despite the fact that the case is pending for hearing in ITAT.. Congress said in its statement.

The party also asked whether “BJP has ever paid income tax?”

Last week, Congress found that tax authorities had frozen its main bank accounts. However, these were immediately dropped by the ITAT, which began hearing the case yesterday.

Taking aim at the government, Mr Maken said the Congress was left with “no money to spend” due to the ban. “…Electricity bills, salaries of employees… everything has been affected. Look at the time, it is clear.”

Read | “115 crores have been deposited, it is not even that much”: Congress on accounting dispute

Funding for political parties is becoming a central issue in this election, especially after the Supreme Court struck down electoral bonds – which allow individuals and/or businesses to make anonymous donations to political parties – on the grounds that This violates the citizens’ right to information.

Congress and other opposition parties welcomed the decision, which scrapped the scheme that had benefited the BJP the most. Data shows, 28,030 bonds worth Rs 16,437.63 crore were sold between 2016 and 2022, of which the BJP got more than Rs 10,000 crore and the Congress got less than Rs 1,600 crore.

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