Congress lacks funds for train tickets and campaigning: RG

“This is a criminal action on the Congress party, a criminal action done by the Prime Minister and the Home Minister. So, the idea that India is a democracy is a lie. There is no democracy in India today. The idea that India is the world’s largest democracy is a lie. A complete lie,” Gandhi said.

The trio criticised the government for the now-defunct electoral bonds scheme, with Sonia Gandhi citing a “systematic effort” to financially undermine Congress, and Kharge suggesting the BJP profited from companies through the scheme.

The Congress had previously reported that its accounts were frozen due to a tax dispute involving Rs 210 crore, although the Income Tax department has not confirmed this. Rahul Gandhi claimed the action was deliberately timed to weaken the party’s election campaign, stating, “Our leaders cannot fly from one part of the country to another. Forget flying, they cannot even take a train.” 

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“20 per cent of India votes for us and we are not able to pay ₹2 for anything. It has been orchestrated to cripple us in the elections. Even if our bank accounts are unfrozen today, huge amount of debt damage has been done to Indian democracy,” he added. 

He lamented the inability to fund campaign activities or support party workers and candidates, emphasising the timing just two months before the election campaign.

“This is not freezing of Congress party’s bank accounts, this is the freezing of Indian democracy. As the biggest opposition party, we are unable to take any action – we can’t do advertisements or send our leaders anywhere. This is an assault on democracy,” said Gandhi. 

Rahul Gandhi also called out the Election Commission for its silence on the matter, questioning the integrity of institutions meant to safeguard democracy. 

“What’s interesting to me is that there are institutions in this country that are supposed to protect the democratic framework. There is an Election Commission in the country but it has not even said anything; that you have frozen the bank accounts of one of the biggest political parties and largest opposition in the country,” he mentioned. 

Sonia Gandhi said that public funds collected by Congress were being seized. Kharge warned of the implications of such actions, arguing that without financial parity, there is no fair competition, which poses a threat to the democratic process.

“I appeal to constitutional bodies that they should allow our party to access bank accounts if they want free and fair polls,” Kharge said.

The Congress had previously reported that its accounts were frozen due to a tax dispute involving Rs 210 crore, although the Income Tax department has not confirmed this. Rahul Gandhi claimed the action was timed to weaken the party’s election campaign, stating, “Our leaders cannot fly from one part of the country to another. Forget flying, they cannot even take a train.”  

“20 per cent of India votes for us and we are not able to pay ₹2 for anything. It has been orchestrated to cripple us in the elections. Even if our bank accounts are unfrozen today, a huge amount of debt damage has been done to Indian democracy,” Gandhi added. He lamented the inability to fund campaign activities or support party workers and candidates, emphasising the timing just two months before the election campaign.

“This is not freezing of Congress party’s bank accounts, this is the freezing of Indian democracy. As the biggest opposition party, we are unable to take any action – we can’t do advertisements or send our leaders anywhere. This is an assault on democracy,” said Gandhi. Rahul Gandhi also called out the Election Commission for its silence on the matter, questioning the integrity of institutions meant to safeguard democracy.

“What’s interesting to me is that there are institutions in this country that are supposed to protect the democratic framework. There is an Election Commission in the country but it has not even said anything; that you have frozen the bank accounts of one of the biggest political parties and largest opposition in the country,” he mentioned.

Sonia Gandhi said that public funds collected by Congress were being seized. Kharge warned of the implications of such actions, arguing that without financial parity, there is no fair competition, which threatens the democratic process. “I appeal to constitutional bodies that they should allow our party to access bank accounts if they want free and fair polls,” Kharge said.