Jairam Ramesh Questions Govt Inaction Over Alleged ₹10,000-Crore Tax Evasion Through 3,260 Political Parties

NEW DELHI, SEPT 9: Congress general secretary in-charge of communications Jairam Ramesh on Wednesday questioned the Narendra Modi government over alleged tax evasion involving 3,260 registered unrecognised political parties (RUPPs), demanding to know why those accused of wrongdoing had not faced penalties or criminal proceedings.

Ramesh claimed that tax evasion amounting to more than ₹10,000 crore had come to light in connection with the political parties and questioned why the authorities had not initiated action against those allegedly involved.

“Prime Minister ji, you could not bring back black money from abroad and people of the country have still not received the ₹15 lakh promised to every citizen. But now it seems that, under the BJP's protection, a scheme to convert black money into white is being run within the country itself,” Ramesh said in a statement.

Referring to a press conference held in New Delhi by Congress leader and former MP Shaktisinh Gohil, Ramesh said serious questions had been raised over the alleged tax evasion involving the 3,260 RUPPs and the lack of action against those allegedly responsible.

He asked why the authorities had not imposed the claimed 200 per cent penalty or initiated criminal proceedings if the alleged violations had been established.

“The people of the country want to know why the Modi government has not taken action against tax evaders and these fake political parties despite the matter of tax evasion and conversion of black money into white through fake political parties coming to light,” he said.

Ramesh also compared the alleged inaction with the tax action faced by the Congress ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. He recalled that the party's bank accounts had been frozen and substantial tax notices issued, alleging that the measures were intended to financially weaken the principal Opposition party before the elections.

“We remember that just before the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, in an extremely undemocratic manner, the bank accounts of the country's principal Opposition party, the Congress, were frozen and heavy tax notices were sent to it,” Ramesh said.

“Then why is there no investigation into these 3,260 fake political parties and the cases of tax evasion associated with them?” he asked.

Stepping up his allegations, Ramesh questioned whether the political parties had received protection from BJP leaders and whether their alleged activities were carried out with the backing of the ruling establishment.

“Is the reason that these fake political parties had the protection of the BJP leadership and were carrying out all these scams with the government's patronage?” he asked.

Ramesh further questioned who was behind what he described as a “black game” involving the alleged fake political parties.

“Who is the ‘Chanakya’ behind these 3,260 fake political parties? Who is the real mastermind of this black game?” he asked.

The Congress leader demanded that the Modi government respond to the allegations and explain why the alleged tax-evasion cases had not resulted in punitive or criminal action.

The latest allegations come amid an ongoing political confrontation between the Congress and the BJP over alleged financial irregularities, political funding and the actions of tax and investigative agencies. While the Congress has repeatedly accused the government of selectively targeting Opposition parties, the government and the BJP have maintained that tax and law-enforcement agencies act in accordance with the law.