Tax terrorism, cries Cong as fresh I-T notices of over Rs 1,800 cr slapped on it

NT Correspondent

New Delhi: The Congress Friday said it has received fresh notices from the income-tax department, asking it to pay around Rs 1,823 crore even as it accused the BJP of "serious violations" of income-tax laws for which it should be penalised to the tune of Rs 4,600 crore.

The left parties - CPI and CPIM - were also caught up in similar tax nets with the CPI saying it has received a notice from Income Tax department for using an old PAN card and the CPI-M slapped with a tax recovery notice of Rs 15.59 crore for not declaring a bank account in its tax returns for 2016-17.

With campaigning for Lok Sabha polls picking up, the Congress also accused the ruling BJP of indulging in "tax terrorism" to financially cripple the opposition party and alleged that democracy was "under threat" in the BJP government.

Citing examples, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge said the I-T department has now given a notice to the Congress for a total amount of Rs 1,823 crore and already withdrawn Rs 135 crore from the party's accounts, which were funds collected by the party through crowdsourcing.

The left parties - CPI and CPI-M were also caught up in similar tax nets with the CPI saying it has received a notice from Income Tax department for using an old PAN card and the CPI-M slapped with a tax recovery notice of Rs 15.59 crore for not declaring a bank account in its tax returns for 2016-17.

All the parties are now seeking legal recourse with the Congress saying its case is slated to be heard in the Supreme Court on April 1.

Kharge accused the BJP-led Centre of misusing institutions like the income-tax department, ED and CBI to subvert democracy and belittle the Constitution, and asked why is the I-T department being used as a weapon to harass the principal opposition party.

He asserted that such actions would not deter the Congress from contesting the Lok Sabha polls. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi accused the BJP of indulging in "tax terrorism" by misusing probe agencies and warned it, saying when the government changes, such exemplary action will be taken that no one will dare to do such things again.

Jairam Ramesh alleged that through the "electoral bonds scam", the BJP has collected Rs 8,200 crore and used the route of "pre-paid, post-paid, post-raid bribes and shell companies".

I-T dept should demand Rs 4,617.58 crore from BJP: Cong

Congress leaders Jairam Ramesh and Ajay Maken alleged that the BJP is in serious violation of income-tax laws and said the I-T department should raise a demand of Rs 4,617.58 crore from the saffron party for such violations.

"We have analysed all the submissions of the BJP to the Election Commission (EC). The party has faltered every year," Maken claimed, alleging that the tax authorities are targeting only the principal opposition party and not the BJP for similar violations.