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In a fiery address on Thursday, Sonia Gandhi launched a scathing attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, accusing his government of orchestrating a systematic effort to financially cripple the Congress party. Addressing a rare joint press conference alongside party president Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi, Sonia Gandhi condemned the “freezing” of the party’s bank accounts, describing it as a threat to democracy itself.
“The issue we are taking up today is extremely serious. The issue affects not just the Indian National Congress but democracy itself. A systematic effort is underway by the Prime Minister to cripple the Indian National Congress financially,” Sonia Gandhi asserted.
She alleged that while the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) amassed funds through electoral bonds, the finances of the principal opposition party were under assault. Sonia Gandhi decried the freezing of funds collected from the public and the forcible withdrawal of money from Congress accounts.
“Funds collected from the public are being frozen, and money from our accounts is being taken away forcibly. However, even under these most challenging circumstances, we are doing our very best to maintain the effectiveness of our election campaign,” she declared.
Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge echoed Sonia Gandhi’s sentiments, denouncing the “dangerous game” being played and demanding a “level playing field” in electoral politics. He highlighted the Supreme Court’s ruling that deemed electoral bonds illegal and unconstitutional, contrasting it with the freezing of the Congress party’s bank accounts.
“The Lok Sabha elections have been announced. It is essential for democracy that elections are conducted impartially and a level playing ground is provided to all political parties,” Kharge emphasized.
Kharge also criticized the BJP-led government’s alleged collection of money through loopholes and extravagant expenditures, including the use of 5-star offices and flights for meetings. He refrained from elaborating on specific accusations but hinted that the truth would soon be revealed.
In a plea to constitutional bodies, Kharge urged them to uphold the principles of free and fair elections by allowing the Congress party access to its bank accounts without hindrance.
“I appeal to the constitutional institutions that if they want free and fair elections, then they should allow us to freely access our bank accounts. No political party comes under the purview of income tax,” Kharge concluded.
As the political discourse intensifies, Sonia Gandhi’s allegations underscore the mounting tensions between the ruling BJP and the opposition Congress, setting the stage for a contentious electoral battle ahead.
