BJP raising Vadra issue to divert attention from Nirav, Lalit, Mallya: Congress
New Delhi, June 27: The Congress on Wednesday said BJP was raising the Robert Vadra issue just to divert attention from the questions being raised against the Narendra Modi government over "4Ms -- Nirav Modi, Lalit Modi, Vijay Mallya and Mehul Choksi".
Days after the I-T Department served notice to Robert Vadra to pay Rs 25 crore for evading taxes, the BJP on Wednesday alleged that his close aide Krishnan Srinivasan was appointed AICC Secretary as a "quid pro quo" for his services to the Gandhi family.
Responding to the charge, Congress spokesperson Priyanka Chaturvedi said: "They are doing this just to divert attention from the questions being raised against Modi government on Nirav Modi, Lalit Modi, Vijay Mallya and Mehul Choksi."
Giving details of IT Returns filed by Robert Vadra's company Skylight Hospitality, she said that on September 18, 2013, it disposed off 3.53 acre land for Rs 58 crore and there was "no corruption involved in selling a piece of land".
"In the same year, Skylight filed Tax Return and said that its Capital Gains Tax is Rs 8.52 crore and also paid it. The tax return was also accepted."
"This is also above board. They followed the guidelines at a set for the every single individual in this country and every single entity who files an income tax return in this country. Now, pressure is put on him by the Income Tax authorities at the behest of BJP on the retrospective tax," she added.
Chaturvedi said: "They are arbitrarily telling him that this will be shown as business income and he cannot pay Capital Gains Tax. Now, attempts are being made to change the rules and norms for one individual."
"Skylight has filed an appeal with the Income Tax Commissioner and has deposited Rs 3 crore under due protest," she said, adding Income Tax returns can't be leaked in this manner.
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Mamata visits Bhabanipur EVM strong room, warns against counting irregularities
Kolkata (PTI): West Bengal Chief Minister and TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee early Friday warned against any attempt to tamper with the counting process, hours after she visited an EVM strong room in Bhabanipur, alleging possible malpractice.
Banerjee, who emerged around 12:07 am after spending nearly four hours at the counting centre for her Bhabanipur constituency housed in Sakhawat Memorial School in south Kolkata, said only one person would be allowed inside the designated counting area.
"Either the candidate or one agent can stay upstairs. I have also suggested installation of a CCTV camera for the media," she told reporters.
Stressing the need for transparency, she said, "It is essential to maintain transparency. People’s votes must be protected. I rushed here after receiving complaints. The central forces initially did not allow me to enter."
Sounding a stern note ahead of the May 4 counting, she added, "If there is any plan to tamper with the counting process, it will not be tolerated."
On Thursday evening, Banerjee had reached the Bhabanipur Assembly segment counting centre, which houses the strong room for EVMs used in the April 29 polling, citing suspicion of tampering with the machines.
She entered the premises along with her election agent and remained inside for hours, even as Kolkata Mayor and TMC candidate from the Kolkata Port segment Firhad Hakim reached the spot but could not meet her.
"I reached here upon learning that the chief minister has arrived. But I couldn’t meet her since she was already inside the premises, exercising her right as a candidate to visit strong rooms. I wasn’t allowed there. I will not be able to confirm what exactly is transpiring inside," Hakim said.
The development coincided with protests by TMC candidates Kunal Ghosh and Shashi Panja outside the Khudiram Anushilan Kendra in north Kolkata, where they staged a sit-in alleging irregularities and possible tampering of EVMs stored in strong rooms, leading to face-offs between TMC and BJP supporters.
Earlier in a video message, Banerjee had urged party leaders, workers and polling agents to maintain a 24-hour vigil on EVM strong rooms, alleging that the BJP could attempt to tamper with the machines before counting begins.
Her remarks come amid heightened political tension in the state following a fiercely contested Assembly election, with parties closely monitoring arrangements and raising concerns over transparency.
