India's main opposition Congress party announced today that only a week before the anticipated announcement of the national elections, its bank accounts had been frozen by the tax department.

The party's spokesperson Ajay Maken stated in a press conference, "We were told that the accounts of India's main opposition party have been frozen," adding that in relation to an investigation of the country's income filing for the 2018-19 financial year, India's Income Tax Department has released a payment demand of 2.1 billion rupees equivalent to $25.3 million. 

Emphasizing that his party has not committed any actions worthy of such a penalty while also claiming that the goal of this freeze was to sideline the party before the elections, Maken asked, "When the principal opposition party's accounts have been frozen just two weeks before the announcement of the national elections, do you think democracy is alive in our country?" 

It is worth noting that critics and rights groups have accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government of exploiting law enforcement agencies for its benefit and selectively targeting its political rivals.

Congress party leader was disqualified from parliament last year

Top Indian opposition figure Rahul Gandhi was disqualified from parliament as a result of his conviction for defamation, a notice from the national legislature said on March 24, 2023. 

"Rahul Gandhi... stands disqualified from the member of Lok Sabha from the date of his conviction," the notice said.

The decision by the Lok Sabha, the lower house of India's legislature, came a day after Gandhi was found guilty of defamation for a 2019 campaign trail remark implying that Prime Minister Narendra Modi was a criminal. 

In the 2019 election rally, Gandhi said, “Why do all thieves have Modi as their surname?” In his speech, he then went on to name fugitive Indian diamond tycoon Nirav Modi, banned Indian Premier League boss Lalit Modi, and Narendra Modi.

Gandhi, 52, was given a two-year prison sentence on March 23, 2023 but was released on bail after his attorneys declared they intended to appeal