Income tax dispute: Congress accuses the BJP of embezzling funds “from our banks”

Delhi, New: In response to the Income Tax authorities taking ₹65.89 crore out of the accounts of the AICC, Indian Youth Congress, and NSUI, party leader KC Venugopal said on Thursday that the Bharatiya Janata Party was embezzling money from the Congress’ bank accounts.

The lawmaker said that throughout its time in power at the center, the Congress never treated the BJP in this way.

“Our money is being stolen by them (the BJP) from the banks…This nation was dominated by us too. If there is ever a situation like this, the BJP can say that they experienced something similar during the Congress-led UPA administration or the Congress government,” he said.

As a political party, the BJP, according to KC Venugopal, has never levied income taxes. He said that the income tax deduction was an assault on democratic ideas and principles.

“And they’re attempting to silence India’s opposing voice…This is blatantly a dictatorship,” he said.

According to KC Venugopal, the Congress received this funding from its members, in contrast to the BJP.

“The BJP administration compelled the banks to transfer around ₹65.89 crores from our savings to the government, according to the most recent information from the banks. This sum comes from the Indian Youth Congress, AICC, and NSUI accounts. We received this funding from party members as opposed to the BJP.The primary opposition party’s account was taken over by the BJP administration just before the parliamentary elections, he said.

Congressman Ajay Maken posted on his X account on Wednesday, stating that while neither the Congress nor the BJP pay income taxes, his party is still being asked to pay ₹210 crore in taxes.

The Income Tax Appellate Tribunal (ITAT) has received a motion from the Congress against the collection of the unpaid tax.

The agency informed the court on Wednesday that the Congress was being handled like a regular taxpayer since it had broken the law.

A false narrative that “they’re being targeted before the general elections” was allegedly being attempted by the party.

Congress said last week that it was out of money because the income tax agency had frozen its accounts due to baseless accusations.

“Just before the Lok Sabha elections, the nation’s biggest opposition party, the Indian National Congress, had its accounts blocked by the power-hungry Modi government. According to Mallikarjun Kharge, the leader of the Congress, “this is a serious assault on India’s democracy.”