'Rahul quick to hug PM, but runs from tax officer'

New Delhi: A day after the Delhi high court rejected Congress president Rahul Gandhi and UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi’s plea challenging the I-T department’s decision to reopen his 2011-12 tax assessments, the BJP on Tuesday said while Mr Gandhi was quick to hug Prime Minister Narendra Modi, but “runs a mile from an income tax officer.”

The ruling party said that the Congress president needs to answer many questions as their appeals against reopening their tax assessment in a case related with the National Herald newspapers  “reveal deep seated corruption in the hallowed halls of the Congress party.”

Union minister Smriti Irani said no Indian can defy an income tax notice but “why is it that Mr Gandhi, who is too quick to hug the Prime Minister, would run a mile when it comes to an Income Tax officer.” The minister accused the Congress president of setting up a not-for-profit company, Young Indians, which then bought a commercial company, Associated Journals Ltd, and its debts worth Rs 90 crore for RS 50 lakh.

“Rahul Gandhi set up a company in 2011, professing it will not indulge in profit-loss business. Young Indian bought Associated Journals, which is commercial,” she said, questioning the deal. .

The BJP leader claimed that after buying the loan of Associated Journals, Mr Gandhi, his sister Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and Mrs Gandhi become owners of a company. The BJP alleged that the Gandhis’ used Congress funds to pay its debts even though the publisher has real estate assets worth thousands of crores.

The minister also reacted on former RBI governor Raghuram Rajan’s submission to the Estimates Committee over mounting NPAs (non-performing assets), saying his statement clearly proves it is the Congress which is responsible for increased NPA.

“UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi led a government that attacked the very core of the Indian banking system. Raghuram Rajan has said that between 2006-08, the UPA functioning led to increased NPAs in the Indian banking structure,” she said.

Ms  Irani termed the former RBI governor’s report a “loud proclamation” of corruption done by Congress.