Congress’ ‘rant’ on frozen accounts based on fear of a ‘historic defeat’: BJP president J.P. Nadda

The BJP on Thursday responded to the Congress party’s contention that the government had frozen its bank accounts, creating difficulties for the party just ahead of the Lok Sabha election, by terming it an “alibi” for “a historic defeat” facing the Congress.

Reacting to the press conference held on Tuesday morning by Congress parliamentary party leader Sonia Gandhi, party president Mallikarjun Kharge, and Wayanad MP Rahul Gandhi, BJP national president J.P. Nadda posted on social media platform X that the Congress was playing victim instead of “correcting its own errors”.

“The Congress is going to be totally rejected by the people and fearing a historic defeat, their top leadership addressed a press conference and ranted against Indian democracy and institutions,” he said. “They are conveniently blaming their irrelevance on ‘financial troubles’,” Mr. Nadda posted.

“Instead of correcting their own errors, the Congress is blaming authorities for their troubles. Be it the ITAT or the Delhi High Court, they have asked the Congress to comply with the rules, pay the taxes due but the party never did so,” Mr. Nadda added.

“For a party which has looted from every sector, in every state and at every moment of history, to talk of financial helplessness is comical. Congress can use the money accumulated from all their scams starting from jeep to chopper scam via Bofors for their electioneering,” he said in his post.

The BJP also held a press conference in the afternoon, addressed by party spokespersons Ravi Shankar Prasad and Sambit Patra on the same issue.

Mr. Prasad accused Mr. Gandhi of lying on the issue and also targeted Ms. Gandhi, saying both of them shamed Indian democracy globally with their “irresponsible” comments. “It is true political parties are tax exempt, but they have to file tax returns in time, which the Congress party did not do,” he said.

The Opposition party did not get any judicial relief and has now gone to the Supreme Court, he said, accusing Congress leaders of lying over the issue. He said the Congress was even pulled up by the High Court over the issue.

“We wish the Congress well and our gentle advice to the party is the more you allow Rahul Gandhi to speak, the more ground you lose,” Mr. Prasad said. If people don’t want to vote for the Congress, the BJP cannot help it, he said.