(Image source from: Twitter.com/ANI)

During a press conference attended by former Congress president Sonia Gandhi and current president Mallikarjun Kharge, Congress MP Rahul Gandhi revealed the party's financial predicament. According to Gandhi, all of the party's accounts have been frozen, preventing them from conducting any campaign activities for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. Gandhi expressed his concern, stating that this situation is not just a freezing of the party's bank accounts, but a freezing of Indian democracy itself. As the largest opposition party, they are unable to take any action, such as booking advertisements or sending their leaders anywhere. Gandhi described this as an assault on democracy. He also highlighted that this action against the party's account occurred just two months before the election campaign. Gandhi mentioned receiving notices from the 90s and 6-7 years ago, with a quantum amount of ₹14 lakhs and severe consequences, impacting their entire financial identity. He criticized the Election Commission for not addressing this issue and expressed that their ability to fight elections has already been compromised, as they have lost a month. Additionally, Gandhi placed blame on Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah.

Gandhi expressed his belief that India's democracy is a falsehood, stating that there is no democracy in the country today. He disputed the notion that India is the largest democracy in the world, claiming it to be a complete fabrication. He pointed out that despite 20% of India voting for his party, they are unable to afford even ₹2 for anything. He accused the government of orchestrating this financial hardship to weaken their chances in the elections. Gandhi also accused Modi of making a deliberate and systematic effort to financially cripple the Congress. During a press conference, Sonia Gandhi further emphasized the seriousness of the issue, stating that it not only affects the Congress but the entire democracy. She claimed that the Prime Minister is actively working to undermine the Congress financially. Mallikarjun Kharge added that fair elections and a level playing field for all political parties are crucial for a democracy. He expressed concern about the concentration of power in the hands of those in authority, including control over media, IT, ED, Election Commission, and other autonomous bodies.

In February, the income tax department confiscated the party's primary bank accounts, totaling ₹210 crore, due to an income tax obligation from 2018-19. The long-standing organization sought relief from the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal, requesting a halt to the department's actions, as freezing their accounts would prevent them from fulfilling financial obligations such as bill payments and employee salaries.

(Video Source: Indian National Congress)