New Delhi, In a vehement critique of the current state of governance, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi declared that India lacks democratic values under its current administration, emphasizing the alleged freezing of his party’s bank accounts by the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) as evidence of this claim.

According to Kashmir Media Service, during a press conference held in New Delhi, Gandhi criticized the central government, asserting that the action to block the Congress party’s financial resources has inflicted significant harm on the democratic framework of the country. “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,” Gandhi articulated.

He highlighted the challenges faced by the Congress party due to the alleged freezing of its bank accounts, stating that the move has severely restricted the party’s ability to campaign, support its workers, and back its candidates ahead of the elections. “All our bank accounts have been frozen. We can do no campaign work, we cannot support our workers, we cannot support our candidates,” Gandhi explained, noting the silence of the Election Commission and other institutions on the matter.

The Congress leader also mentioned a ruling by the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal (ITAT) on March 8, which dismissed the party’s plea for a stay against the Income Tax Department’s actions. He described these developments as an assault on democracy and stressed that the Congress, as the largest opposition party, is hindered from performing basic electoral activities.

Rahul Gandhi called out the apparent inaction of the Election Commission and other institutions meant to safeguard democracy, questioning their silence in the face of what he perceives as an affront to democratic principles. The press conference, which featured prominent figures such as Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge and former Presidents Sonia Gandhi alongside Rahul Gandhi, aimed to spotlight the party’s grievances against the ruling BJP, framing the issue as a broader attack on India’s democratic values.