India's main opposition says accounts frozen ahead of elections

By Ahmad Adil

NEW DELHI (AA) — India's main opposition party on Friday said its bank accounts had been frozen, weeks ahead of general elections are expected in the country.

"After we came to know that banks are not honoring the cheques ... we investigated and found that bank accounts of the main opposition have been frozen," Indian National Congress party leader Ajay Maken told journalists in the capital New Delhi.

"The Income Tax (Department) asked for 210 crore Indian rupees (about $25.2 million) recovery from the Youth Congress and Congress party," said Maken, adding that this came ahead of general elections expected between April and May, with the announcement of the exact date expected in the coming weeks.

While no statement has yet been released on the matter by the Income Tax Department, Congress blames the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

"Power drunk (Narendra) Modi Govt has frozen the accounts of the country’s largest Opposition party - the Indian National Congress - just before the Lok Sabha elections," Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, said on X, adding: "This is a deep assault on India's Democracy." Lok Sabha is the lower house of India's parliament.

"We appeal to the Judiciary to save the multi-party system in this country and protect India's Democracy," Kharge said, warning that the party would take to the streets and "fight strongly against this autocracy."

For its part, the ruling party retorted that government agencies act when rules are not followed.

"It is unfortunate that a big party like Congress is not following government rules," said Virendraa Sachdeva, a BJP leader in New Delhi, adding that Congress would face the consequences if it does not follow the rules.

The opposition party later said an income tax tribunal allowed it to partially operate its accounts until the next hearing.