New Delhi: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi launched a scathing attack on the Centre on Thursday, alleging a severe erosion of democracy and accusing the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of undermining the democratic process by freezing the bank accounts of the Congress party.
Gandhi asserted that the prevailing conditions in India contradicted the notion of democracy, stating, “There is no democracy in India today. The idea that India is the world’s largest democracy is a lie. A complete lie.”
Addressing a press conference in Delhi, the Congress MP condemned the government’s actions, asserting that freezing the accounts of the largest opposition party amounted to a “criminal action” orchestrated by the Prime Minister and Home Minister.
“All our bank accounts have been frozen. We can do no campaign work, we cannot support our workers, we cannot support our candidates,” Gandhi lamented, highlighting the debilitating impact on the party’s ability to function effectively in the upcoming elections.
He emphasized that the ongoing ordeal had severely handicapped the Congress party’s operations, hindering its ability to conduct campaign activities and provide support to party workers and candidates.
“This is not freezing of Congress party’s bank accounts; this is the freezing of Indian democracy,” Gandhi remarked, characterizing the situation as an assault on democracy itself.
Gandhi criticized the Election Commission for its perceived silence on the matter, questioning the efficacy of institutions tasked with safeguarding democratic principles.
“What’s interesting to me is that there are institutions in this country that are supposed to protect the democratic framework…but they have not even said anything,” Gandhi remarked, expressing disappointment over the lack of intervention from regulatory bodies.
The Congress leader’s remarks come in the wake of the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal’s dismissal of the Congress Party’s plea seeking a stay against Income Tax Department proceedings related to the freezing of their bank accounts.
Following the press conference, Rahul Gandhi reiterated his commitment to combating what he described as “hatred-filled ‘Asura-shakti'” (demonic forces), emphasizing the party’s resolve to confront challenges and uphold democratic values.
The news conference held at the party headquarters also saw prominent Congress figures, including Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge and former Presidents Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi, condemning the BJP’s actions and advocating for the restoration of the party’s financial autonomy.
