Jammu, 22-03-2024: The Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee (JKPCC) launched a scathing attack on the BJP-led government for its actions in freezing 11 accounts belonging to the Congress party. The move, described as unjust and politically motivated, occurred amidst the crucial election period, prompting strong condemnation from the Congress leadership.
In a press conference held at the PCC office, JKPCC President Vikar Rasool Wani, accompanied by Working President Raman Bhalla, Senior Vice President and Chief Spokesperson Ravinder Sharma, General Secretary (Org) Narinder Gupta, and DCC President Jammu Urban Manmohan Singh, expressed deep concern over what they deemed as an assault on democracy by the ruling BJP.
Wani highlighted the arbitrary nature of the account freezes, citing a minor delay in filing details of Rs 14.49 lakhs as the reason behind the drastic action taken against the Congress party. Shockingly, despite the relatively trivial nature of the infraction, the BJP government seized a staggering Rs 210 crore from the Congress accounts, with an additional Rs 115 crore already transferred to government coffers by the IT department.
The Congress leaders condemned the BJP’s use of government agencies to target opposition figures while simultaneously employing unfair tactics to stifle political opponents. They pointed out the glaring hypocrisy in the BJP’s approach, noting the massive sums collected through the controversial electoral bond scheme, which they characterized as unconstitutional and illegal.
Ravinder Sharma, the chief spokesperson of JKPCC, further elaborated on the injustice faced by the Congress party, revealing that the IT department had issued notices dating back to the fiscal year 1993-94, when Sita Ram Kesri served as the party’s treasurer. The sudden revival of decades-old cases raised serious questions about the government’s motives and its commitment to fair governance.
Sharma also shed light on the dubious practices surrounding the electoral bond scheme, alleging that it served as a vehicle for corporate interests to influence political outcomes. He highlighted instances where companies facing investigations for malpractices, such as the production of spurious drugs, were found to have made significant donations through electoral bonds, raising concerns about the integrity of the electoral process.
The JKPCC leaders issued a fervent appeal to the people to reject the BJP in the upcoming elections, warning that failure to do so would jeopardize the very foundations of democracy. They urged citizens to wake up to the threats posed by the BJP’s authoritarian tactics and to safeguard the principles of freedom and democracy for future generations.