Frozen bank accounts: Sonia says effort by PM to cripple Cong

NT Correspondent

New Delhi: Putting the spotlight on its precarious finances ahead of the Lok Sabha polls, the Congress' top brass on Thursday demanded immediate access to its frozen bank accounts to ensure a level playing field as Sonia Gandhi accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of a "systematic effort" to cripple the party's finances.

The BJP, however, hit back alleging the accusation is a "desperate" attempt to create an alibi for its imminent defeat and charged the Gandhis with shaming Indian democracy globally with their irresponsible remarks.

In a rare press conference along with party chief Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi, Sonia Gandhi said electoral bonds have, on the one hand, benefitted the BJP hugely and, on the other, finances of the principal opposition party are under "determined assault".

The move to freeze the party's accounts, the leaders said, had not just impacted the Congress but democracy in India.

The leaders claimed Rs 210 crore has been marked as lien in their freezed accounts for a notice for the year 2017-18 for Rs 14.49 crore received in cash, the party has received another Income Tax notice for its returns 30 years ago for 1994-95 too.

Kharge said this is a 'dangerous game' being played by the BJP which will have far-reaching consequences and urged the courts to see that the rule of law is made applicable.

To save democracy, there should be a level playing field, he said, adding that if constitutional institutions want a free and fair election our party should be allowed to operate our bank accounts freely.

"They do not want us to contest election and want a one-sided election. Our frozen accounts should be released immediately and a level playing field should be ensured to save democracy and the Constitution," Kharge said.