Freezing of Congress accounts violates model code: Sachin Pilot

Mr. Pilot is the Congress chief in Chhattisgarh.

Raipur:

Party leader Sachin Pilot on Thursday said freezing Congress bank accounts at the time of elections violated the code of conduct and was unconstitutional and the poll panel should block such a move to save democracy.

Speaking to reporters at the Swami Vivekananda Airport in Raipur, he said the bank accounts of the BJP and not the Congress should be frozen as the ruling party had received “huge funds” through the electoral bonds “scam”.

At a press conference in New Delhi, senior Congress leader Sonia Gandhi claimed that Prime Minister Narendra Modi was taking systemic steps as the opposition outfit stepped up demands for access to its bank accounts to ensure a level playing field. actions to weaken the party’s economic power. The run-up to the Lok Sabha polls.

Chhattisgarh Congress chief Mr Pilot arrived here on a two-day visit to the state in view of the upcoming Lok Sabha polls.

“As we all know, the Centre’s treatment of the main opposition Congress, the seizure of Congress bank accounts, seizure of cash, deliberate failure to provide a level playing field to the Congress, are violations of the code of conduct and ethics and the Constitution,” he said.

“I request the Election Commission of India to take immediate steps to prevent such acts. The biggest festival of democracy is the elections. Seizing the bank accounts of AICC, Youth Congress and NSUI during elections and harboring grudges is tantamount to weakening democracy.” Maintain the frontline Deputy Chief Minister of Jasthan.

Pilot said the entire country is watching how the Center is trying to weaken the Congress, especially during elections.

The Congress leader accused the BJP-led Center of being “selfish” and indulging in aggressive politics and warned that if such behavior continues, the elections will no longer be independent and fair.

“As an independent constitutional body, the European Commission has a duty to prevent such behaviour,” the former federal minister said.

On the issue of electoral bonds, Mr. Pilot said, “The Supreme Court has declared electoral bonds unconstitutional. Scams worth crores of rupees have taken place through it. Rahul Ji (Congress MP Rahul Gandhi) said this It has become an act of extortion.” This scam using government agencies such as CBI, ED, IT, etc. is the first time in the world. ” Mr. Pilot said Congress candidates for the remaining five Lok Sabha seats in Chhattisgarh will be announced soon.

Two weeks ago, the opposition parties nominated six candidates, including former Chhattisgarh chief minister Bhupesh Baghel (Rajnandgaon), who holds 11 Lok Sabha seats.

Chhattisgarh will go to polls in three phases on April 19, April 26 and May 7.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)