The Congress on April 1 welcomed the reprieve it acquired from the Earnings Tax (I-T) division on the tax demand of ₹3,500 crore, however mentioned the whole episode raises points which can be bigger than a tax demand.
Taking to X, former Finance Minister P. Chidambaram requested if calls for may be raised on a political get together when all political events are exempt from earnings tax. “I welcome the Solicitor General’s statement in Court that no coercive steps will be taken to enforce the Income Tax demands on the Congress party. There are issues larger than a demand for income tax,” Mr Chidambaram mentioned.
“Can a demand be raised on a political party for tax, interest and penalty that will effectively cripple the party? Can such demands be made during the period when national elections are held to elect a new Lok Sabha? Can free, fair and democratic elections be scuttled by raising preposterous demands for humongous sums of money? What will prevail? Democratic elections or tax demands,” he requested.
Rajya Sabha member and senior advocate Vivek Tankha, who had appeared for the Congress within the Earnings Tax Appelate Tribunal, mentioned “truth ultimately wins”.
“Gratitude to the Supreme Court docket for safeguarding the spirit of democracy and guaranteeing degree enjoying discipline between political events. Was not attainable if @INCIndia had not fought #taxterrorism earlier than our courts. Demand of three,500 crore stands deferred till July 2024, topic to remaining resolution by SC (sic),“ Mr Tankha mentioned in a put up on X.