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Sonia Gandhi at rare press conference: ‘Systematic efforts underway by PM to…’
Sonia Gandhi said the issue affects not just the Indian National Congress but the democracy itself.
Sonia Gandhi on Thursday launched a scathing attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi as the Congress trained its guns on the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party over the "freezing" of the party's bank accounts. Addressing a rare joint press conference with party president Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi, Sonia Gandhi said there has been a “systematic effort” by PM Modi to “cripple” the Congress financially.
"The issue we are taking up today is extremely serious. The issue affects not just the Indian National Congress but the democracy itself. A systematic effort is underway by the Prime Minister to cripple the Indian National Congress financially," Sonia Gandhi said.
Sonia Gandhi alleged that on one hand, there is an electoral bonds issue and on the other, the finances of the principal opposition party are under assault.
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“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 said.
“This, we all believe, is unprecedented and undemocratic,” Sonia Gandhi added.
‘No level playing field for polls’: Mallikarjun Kharge
Kharge said it was a “dangerous game” and demanded a “level playing field”. "The Supreme Court called electoral bonds illegal and unconstitutional. Under that scheme, the present ruling party filled its accounts with thousands and crores of rupees. On the other hand, under a conspiracy, the bank account of the main opposition party has been frozen. So that, in the absence of funds, there is no level-playing field in contesting the elections," Kharge said on Thursday.
Also Read: Rahul Gandhi slams Centre, says 'Congress bank accounts frozen, can't campaign'
The Congress president added, “If democracy in this country has to be saved, there has to be a level playing ground.”
Kharge stressed that it is essential for a democracy that elections are conducted impartially.
"The Lok Sabha elections have been announced. It is essential for a democracy that elections are conducted in an impartial manner and a level playing ground is provided to all political parties. It should not be that ED, I-T and other autonomous bodies are controlled. In the last few days, after intervention by SC, the facts about electoral bonds which have emerged have hurt the image of the country," he added.
The Congress chief further added that the BJP-led government is collecting money through various loopholes and claimed that they have 5-star offices and use flights for each meeting.
He further said that he does not want to mention how the BJP took money from some companies adding that the truth will be before us soon.
Kharge appealed to constitutional bodies that they should allow their party to access bank accounts if they want free, fair polls.
"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," he said.
