 "Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge")
Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge
The particulars of the electoral bonds information printed by the Election Commission (ECI) on Thursday has prompted fairly a stir in political circles, with the Opposition accusing the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of orchestrating an enormous “scam” within the identify of funding.
The nation’s foremost Opposition Congress get together’s President, Mallikarjun Kharge, on Friday instantly charged Prime Minister Narendra Modi with corruption as the information confirmed that the BJP encashed almost 50 per cent of all of the bonds bought.
The BJP encashed electoral bonds price Rs 6060.5 crore, which is 47.5 per cent of the entire bonds issued by the State Bank of India (SBI) between April 12, 2019 and January 24, 2024.
“PM Modi says “na khaunga, na khane dunga, however it appears that evidently he solely meant —”sirf BJP ko khilaunga,” Kharge charged. His remarks referred to Modi’s common slogan about eliminating corruption, typically utilized in his election campaigns.
Who are doubtful donors? Kharge asks
He additionally highlighted the massive disparity within the quantity obtained by the BJP and the Congress – 47.5 per cent towards 11 per cent.
“There are many dubious donors. Who are these people? Which companies are these? Why have so many companies donated only after ED, IT and CBI raids? Who exerted the pressure on such companies? We demand the highest level of enquiry by the Hon’ble Supreme Court to investigate this saga of corruption by the BJP,” Kharge stated.
Raking up the latest concern of Congress’ financial institution accounts being frozen, he questioned why no motion has been taken towards the BJP, which has “illegally acquired crores and crores of money.”
‘Freeze BJP’s account’
The Congress additional demanded that an enquiry must be made on the problem and the BJP’s accounts must be frozen instantly.
The Congress and different Opposition are crying foul over the scheme, alleging it has disproportionately benefited the ruling get together. Senior Congress chief Jairam Ramesh, Kabil Sibal amongst different Opposition leaders have alleged the BJP of getting carried out “extortion” by “harassing” corporates with monetary probe companies.
“One nation. One Guru. One Enforcement Directorate (ED). One IT. One CBI. One Political Party. 55 per cent of all donations. Go determine,” Trinamool Congress chief Mahua Moitra stated.
“Electoral bonds are BJP’s guarantee to convert black money into white. Electoral Bond ‘Black Money Tourism’ means BJP’s guarantee of purification of money taken out and brought back,” Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav stated.
CPI(M) alleges quid professional quo
The Communist Party of India (Marxist) additionally issued a proper assertion alleging “instances of both quid pro quo and using agencies like the ED to forcibly extort funds from corporates through bonds.”
The information was shared with the ECI by the SBI following an order by the Supreme Court on February 15. The SBI is the authorised physique to concern the nameless bonds, which facilitated funding to political events till the highest courtroom struck down the scheme in its February judgement.
First Published: Mar 15 2024 | 5:01 PM IST
