Atishi says she has been served IT notice over 2020 affidavit, slams BJP for ''hollow threats''
New Delhi, Jun 30: Aam Aadmi Party MLA Atishi Wednesday said she has been served an Income Tax Department notice over her 2020 election affidavit declaration, and attacked the BJP and the Central government for "such hollow threats".
Her party also came out in her defence, terming the notice "ridiculous" and saying it exposes the "sexist and chauvinist" face of the BJP.
Atishi claimed the notice was sent to scare her, but "we have come from difficult fields to change politics of this country and we will not get intimidated by these hollow threats of the BJP".
"I want to tell the Modi government -- we are not afraid of your threats! The Modi government has used every agency to harass AAP leaders but could not sustain a single case against the AAP. The income tax notice was sent to scare, intimidate us," she told a press conference.
"I don't have anything to hide. Wherever the Income Tax Department calls me, I will go with all the details of my bank accounts. I want to challenge the BJP if they are ready to make their bank accounts and property details public," she said.
AAP spokesperson Saurabh Bhardwaj, who also addressed the media, said the notice was served based on Atishi's election affidavit from 2020 in which she had declared Rs 59 lakh worth moveable assets in the form of FD and mutual funds, which she said were earned before 2012.
"This shows the sexist and chauvinist face of BJP. the AAP thinks this move is shameful and we strongly condemn it," he said.
Quoting Bharadwaj, the party tweeted, "MODI GOVT SENDS INCOME TAX NOTICE TO @AtishiAAP! Notice is based on her own declaration from 2020 election affidavit. She had declared 60 lakh worth FD+Mutual Fund. This is ridiculous. She's one of the most educated professional in politics."
Modi सरकार से कहना चाहती हूँ- हम आपकी धमकियों से नहीं डरते!
— AAP (@AamAadmiParty) June 30, 2021
Modi सरकार हर Agency का प्रयोग AAP नेताओं को परेशान करने के लिए करती है
BJP, AAP के खिलाफ एक भी Case Sustain नहीं कर पाई
Income Tax Notice पढ़े लिखे युवाओं को डराने, धमकाने के लिए भेजा-@AtishiAAP#IStandwithAtishi pic.twitter.com/xLGE6MIsRX
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Marxism will remain relevant despite Left electoral's losses, says general secretary M A Baby
New Delhi (PTI): CPI(M) General Secretary M A Baby on Thursday asserted that the Left movement would remain relevant despite not being in power in any state, saying the ideology would continue to endure as long as social and economic inequalities persist.
Hitting back at BJP leader Rajeev Chandrasekhar over his reported remarks that Marxism had become irrelevant, Baby, in an interview with PTI Videos, said, "So long as there is division in society, so long as there is exploitation of the majority of workers, peasants and ordinary masses by a handful of billionaires, Marxism will remain relevant."
"That perhaps Mr Rajeev Chandrasekhar may not be able to understand, but this is the fact of the matter," he said.
Baby acknowledged that the CPI(M)-led Left was currently without an elected government in any state, but maintained that electoral setbacks would not diminish the movement's role.
"We may not have an elected government in any state. There were occasions when we didn't have a government. But the red flag and the commitment to organise and struggle for the rights of the dispossessed, marginalised and exploited will always be upheld by CPI(M) and the Left movement," he said.
He said the Left continued to enjoy support among workers, peasants, agricultural labourers, youth, students and women, and argued that the movement remained necessary because "oppression and assault" continued in society.
"So long as such problems exist in society, the red flag and the working class movement will continue to work among the masses," the Left leader said.
Exuding confidence on the Left's revival, Baby said the party would reflect on the reasons behind its electoral loss.
"We may be rejected in one election, but we will stage our comeback by understanding what went wrong with us," he said, adding, "We will listen to people and we will come back with higher strength."
Baby also criticised the Congress over reported factional tensions in Kerala after the Congress-led United Democratic Front's victory in the state.
"The way they are behaving is being watched by the people of Kerala," he said, referring to infighting within the Congress.
"Those who have given a massive majority to Congress and UDF would be watching all this," he added, while urging party leaders to "settle the problem in an amicable, democratic manner".
Referring to West Bengal, Baby alleged that violence had escalated following the BJP's victory in the state assembly polls.
"It is quite unfortunate that the moment BJP snatched a massive victory in West Bengal, violence has also started on a big scale," he said.
He also accused the Trinamool Congress of being "notorious for violent activities" and alleged that the "RSS-controlled BJP" had "unleashed violence in many places" after the election results.
"This is not good for Bengal, not good for the country. We wish and hope that normalcy would be restored as soon as possible," he said.
Baby said the CPI(M) and the Left in West Bengal would continue efforts to "pacify people" and avoid violence and confrontation.
Asked about former Kerala chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan not reacting publicly to the election results, Baby said Vijayan would respond "at an appropriate time".
