Guwahati (Assam) [India], March 29 (HBTV): After the Congress alleged that the party had received fresh notices from the Income Tax department, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Friday said that if the Congress is not paying the taxes, it means they are against "welfare activities, poor and the downtrodden."  

Accusing the Income Tax Department of double-standards, the Congress on Friday alleged that while it had been penalized for ‘a violation of INR 14 lakh’, the income tax authorities were completely silent on ‘INR 42 crore violation’ by the Bharatiya Janata Party and that the violations by the ruling party at the Centre entailed a penalty of INR 4,600 crore. 

"Somebody denying tax to the government is denying benefits to the poor...Tax money goes to the public welfare. If Congress is not paying the taxes, it means they are against welfare activities, poor and the downtrodden," Sarma told reporters.   

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi said that when they come to power, they will take "strict action" against those trying to "murder the democracy."  

"When the government changes, action will definitely be taken against those who 'murder the democracy'! And such action will be taken that no one will have the courage to do all this again. This is my guarantee," Rahul Gandhi said in a post on X (formerly Twitter).  

Meanwhile, Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge said Congresspersons are never afraid and that the party would fight the elections with its full might. 

(ANI) This is a syndicated news feed. HBTV has edited it for clarity.