• Congress to fulfill tax obligations instead of labeling allegations against IT department: BJP

    National
    Congress to fulfill tax obligations instead of labeling allegations against IT department: BJP
    The Congress claimed on Friday that the BJP was in "serious violation" of tax laws......


    Digital desk: The Congress should follow legal procedures and fulfill its tax obligations instead of labeling allegations against the Income Tax Department and the judiciary, the BJP said on Friday.

    BJP national spokesperson Zafar Islam said in an apparent reference to the Congress, "A certain family of the Congress party believes that they should be exempted from rules and that special laws should apply to them, but it is not feasible in modern India."

    The Congress claimed on Friday that the BJP was in "serious violation" of tax laws and that authorities should demand more than Rs 4,600 crore from the BJP party. The Congress said that it had received new notices from the Income Tax Department demanding payment of Rs 1,823.08 crore. This news forced the BJP to respond. 

    Ahead of the Lok Sabha elections, the Congress further charged that the ruling BJP was engaging in "tax terrorism" to financially destroy the opposition party.

    Islam responded by saying that the Congress leaders are expressing their "frustration" by making accusations against the judiciary and the Income Tax Department. 

    "Rather than making statements in the media, the Congress should follow legal procedures and fulfill its tax obligations," he stated.

    Islam said that because the Congress "also understated their income" in addition to postponing the filing of income tax forms, the I-T Department was "compelled" to act in compliance with the law.

    He said, "While the Congress failed to adhere to the correct procedures for filing taxes and appeal, various judicial bodies including CIT (commissioner of income tax), ITAT (Income Tax Appellate Tribunal), and Delhi High Court have consistently upheld the decisions of the Income Tax Department, dismissing the Congress' arguments."

    Islam also added, "Media statements by Rahul Gandhi, Mallikarjun Kharge and other Congress leaders lack credibility, as evidenced by the court's rejection of the Congress' claims."

    Rahul Gandhi accused the BJP on Friday that when the government changes, such exemplary action will be taken that no one will dare to do such things again. Gandhi accused the BJP of engaging in "tax terrorism" by utilizing inquiry agencies. 

    Congress President Kharge questioned why the tax department is being used as a tool to persecute the main opposition party and accused the BJP-led Center of abusing institutions like the Income Tax Department, ED, and the CBI to destroy democracy and disrespect the Constitution.

    He also stated that the Congress will not be discouraged from running in the next Lok Sabha elections and promised to liberate the nation's institutions from the "dictatorship" of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).