CPI(M) Writes to EC on IT Notices
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SITARAM Yechury, general secretary of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) wrote a letter to Rajiv Kumar, chief election commissioner, Election Commission of India April 8, 2024, on the IT notices served to the CPI(M) Thrissur district committee on its bank account. Below we publish the text of the letter.
IT seems for the first time in the recent times, that we have to draw the attention of the Commission to the actions of a central agency which is not only ill conceived, but thoroughly undermine the level playing field in the run up to the ensuing Lok Sabha elections, 2024.
The IT notices served to CPI(M) Thrissur district committee on its bank account is totally irregular and therefore, condemnable. The details of this account as part of the country wide party accounts are already submitted to the IT and ECI as part of the consolidated accounts submitted in accordance with law and displayed on their websites.
No objections were raised all through the year. It will be also pertinent to point out that several times in the past, the Income Tax authority has commended CPI(M)'s record of compliance with the tax laws . Naturally, it is these returns which have been submitted before the ECI. Moreover, even though, it was not required by any legal stipulation, the CPI(M) in order to set an example of probity in public life has been furnishing these details on its website.
The fact that this is happening when the election process has begun smacks of a premeditated political motivation of the Modi government against the CPI(M)-led LDF in Kerala. Earlier in relation to another tax related issue, the IT authority had submitted before the Supreme Court that it will not pursue such issues during the pendency of the election, not to speak of, freezing of any bank account.
We are not aware as to whether the IT authority had approached the EC for its concurrence before initiating such precipitate action.
Since, the announcement of the election and MCC is in enforcement, this action by the IT authority is violative of a level playing field and the stated objective of holding free and fair election. Is it a mere coincidence that the BJP is contesting the Thrissur parliamentary constituency?
Therefore, we urge you to issue a direction to the IT authority to put this obnoxious order in abeyance till the election process is over in pursuance of the power provided to the EC under Article 324 of the Constitution.
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