Centre Freezes Congress Bank Accounts Over Tax-Filing Delays, Reveals Ajay Maken | Oneindia News - video Dailymotion

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The Income Tax department's freezing of Congress party accounts, including the Youth Congress, weeks before elections sparks outcry. Party spokesperson Ajay Maken condemns the move, alleging political motives. Legal action is taken, but the freeze disrupts crucial operations. Timing, coming after the Supreme Court's electoral bonds ruling, raises suspicions.    #RahulGandhi #CongressParty #AjayMaken #Congress #Supremecourt #CongressPartynews #Priyankagandhi #BJP #PMModi #Tax #Incometax #Indianews #Oneindia #Oneindia News                  ~HT.99~PR.152~ED.102~

Transcript

00:00 "When we did further investigation, we were told that all accounts of the country's

00:09 main opposition party have been frozen.

00:16 Congress party's accounts have been locked."

00:23 The Congress party today faced a significant setback as the Income Tax Department has reportedly

00:28 froze its bank accounts, including those of the Youth Congress, mere weeks before the

00:33 upcoming general elections.

00:36 According to media reports, the party spokesperson Ajay Makan has expressed a deep concern, labelling

00:40 the move as a severe blow to the democratic process.

00:43 The freeze, reportedly initiated due to tax demand of Rs 210 crore, has stirred accusations

00:49 of political bias and deliberate disruption of the party's election preparations.

00:55 Makan has condemned the action, decrying the apparent erosion of democratic principles.

00:59 He portrayed the situation as indicative of a single-rule governance, with the principal

01:04 opposition silenced.

01:05 Seeking redress, Makan also called upon the judiciary, media and the public to uphold

01:10 the democratic values and ensure justice.

01:14 Taking a swift legal action, the party approached the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal to challenge

01:19 the freeze, and eventually the freeze was removed.

01:21 However, Makan clarified that the delay in public disclosure was intentional, awaiting

01:26 the outcome of the pending legal proceedings.

01:29 Yet, yesterday's revelation comes as a shocker to the Congress party as a total of four bank

01:35 accounts were frozen.

01:37 Advocate Vivek Tanka also confirmed the directive to the banks to withhold the acceptance of

01:41 Congress' cheques, redirecting frozen funds to the Income Tax Department.

01:46 But later on, he confirmed that the directive has been removed.

01:51 He cited instances where such drastic measures were not involved, emphasising the selective

01:55 targeting of the Congress party.

01:57 Moreover, Makan has underscored the suspicious timing of the freeze, coinciding with the

02:02 critical election period.

02:04 The abrupt financial constraint, he argues, jeopardises the essential party operations,

02:08 including salaries, utility bills and campaign initiatives like the Nyaya Yatra.

02:13 The implications of the freeze will reverberate across the party's functional spectrum, hindering

02:17 crucial activities on the eve of elections.

02:20 Furthermore, the freeze arrives on the heels of a landmark Supreme Court decision invalidating

02:25 the electoral bond scheme, which was introduced by the central government back in 2018.

02:30 The scheme aimed to enhance the transparency in political funding by replacing cash donations.

02:36 Whether the claims are correct or not needs to be determined, yet the accusations are

02:40 set to trigger a massive political debate.

02:43 The confluence of these events underscores the heightened scrutiny and the challenges

02:47 surrounding the political, finance and democratic processes in India.

03:00 [BLANK_AUDIO]

Centre Freezes Congress Bank Accounts Over Tax-Filing Delays, Reveals Ajay Maken | Oneindia News

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