Congress in Rajasthan to hold protest against I-T notices, freezing of bank accounts

Rajasthan Congress on Saturday is set to hold protests at all district headquarters of the state against the fresh notices issued to it by the Income Tax Department and the freezing of the party's bank accounts.

The Income-Tax Department, issued fresh notices to the Congress on Friday asking it to pay Rs 1,823.08 crore.

The Congress has alleged BJP of indulging in "tax terrorism" to financially cripple the opposition party ahead of the Lok Sabha polls.

General Secretary and spokesperson of Rajasthan Pradesh Congress Committee Swarnim Chaturvedi said the BJP-led central government is continuously attacking democracy and democratic systems in the country, PTI reported.

As part of a well-planned conspiracy of the central government, the bank accounts of the Congress party were frozen and now undemocratic action is being taken against it by the Income Tax Department which has asked it to pay Rs 1,823.08 crore, he was quoted as saying.

Public demonstrations will be organised by the district Congress committees at all the district headquarters of Rajasthan on Saturday where all senior leaders, office bearers, and workers will participate, he said.

The party's main bank accounts were frozen last month over an income tax demand of Rs 210 crore.

The Congress had held a press conference last week, alleging BJP of “freezing India’s democracy” through such actions.

Earlier, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswas attacked Congress, saying, not paying tax to the government is denying benefits to the poor.

"If the Congress is not paying the tax then this means that they are against welfare activities. They are against the poor, against the downtrodden," he said.