Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Feb 18: Senior Congress leader and former Minister Raman Bhalla strongly condemned the freezing of bank accounts belonging to the Congress and the Youth Congress by the Income Tax Department, just ahead of the Lok Sabha polls.
Terming the move as an assault on democracy, Bhalla stated, ” It is very unfortunate and a direct attempt to influence the elections in democracy. Elections are going to be announced any time in a week or two and freezing the bank account of the primary opposition party before that is completely illegal and undemocratic, ” Bhalla said while addressing public meeting at R S Pura in Jammu South constituency.
“The Central Government is using each and every one of its agencies against the opposition. BJP’s motives implying a nefarious plan to undermine democracy. This conspiracy is not against opposition parties, it is a conspiracy against democracy, it is against elections,” he asserted.
Bhalla said Congress stands for ‘patriotism and sacrifice’, ‘service and dedication,’ ‘loyalty and inspiration’, for ‘prosperity and happiness’, ‘compassion and justice’, ‘fearlessness and discipline’.
“We must remember that the Indian National Congress not only liberated the country but also laid the foundation of a prosperous India. We have created such an India, which is the largest and strongest democracy in the world,” added Bhalla.
He termed the 10 years of BJP regime as an era of great economic, social and political injustice in the country in which the rate of unemployment increased three times. During this period, the economic condition of the people remained at the lowest level.
“The record unemployment has frustrated the youth as the number of unemployed has increased to 4 crores in 2022 from one crore in 2012 and the unemployment rate is the highest in 45 years. The unprecedented price rise in petrol, diesel, LPG, CNG, flour, pulses, rice and other essential commodities, imposition of GST on them has reduced the domestic savings to the lowest of fifty years,” he alleged.
Bhalla called upon the party functionaries to maintain close rapport with the public and highlight the “various failures” of the BJP Government. He asked the local leadership of districts, blocks, wards and observers to get ready for polls.
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