The Aryavarth Express
Agency(New Delhi): In a striking critique delivered on Saturday, Jairam Ramesh, the General Secretary of the Congress party, launched a severe accusation against the current BJP-led administration. He claimed the government executed a financial “surgical strike” on the Congress by immobilizing its primary bank accounts just before the forthcoming Lok Sabha elections, essentially stranding the party in a financial quagmire through what he termed “tax terror”.
During a news briefing that formed part of Congress MP Rahul Gandhi’s Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra initiative, Ramesh articulated concerns over the administration’s purported illicit fundraising activities via electoral bonds. Last month’s freezing of the Congress’ key financial reservoirs, in response to an income tax claim amounting to Rs 210 crore, has sparked a significant outcry within the party ranks.
“By seizing our bank accounts right before the general elections, the BJP has effectively conducted a financial surgical strike against us,” Ramesh articulated. He further lamented, “We’re now devoid of financial resources necessary for electoral battles or for formulating our campaign strategies. The impediment extends to the funds amassed via crowd-sourcing, which we’re unable to utilize. Consequently, the Congress finds itself financially crippled, ensnared by what can only be described as fiscal intimidation.”
Ramesh extolled the virtues of Gandhi’s yatras, underscoring their positive impact on both the party’s cohesion and the nation’s welfare. “The 6,000 km journey undertaken by Rahul Gandhi stands in stark contrast to the BJP’s reliance on Rs 6,000 crore worth of electoral bonds,” he stated, drawing a parallel between physical and financial campaigns. The second yatra, which initiated on January 14 near Imphal and concluded today in Mumbai at Chaitya Bhoomi—the revered memorial of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar—was highlighted as a pivotal moment.
The Congress general-secretary framed the yatra as not merely a march across the nation but as a profound ideological statement by the party. “Our battle of beliefs is far from over,” he affirmed, indicating a sustained commitment to their cause. The party’s rally on December 28 of the previous year, themed ‘hai tayyar hum’ (we are ready), was referenced as a testament to their readiness to confront both the BJP and the RSS in the electoral and ideological arenas. Future yatras were promised as part of this ongoing struggle.
Addressing criticisms of the Congress’ stance on electoral bonds, Ramesh defended the party, clarifying its limited capacity to influence national-level contracts or exert control over Central investigative bodies. He elaborated on the misuse of electoral bonds for nefarious purposes, including the manipulation of corporate entities, bribery post-contract, and the establishment of opaque shell companies to evade scrutiny.
