New Delhi, The Congress party has launched a sharp critique against the Modi administration, accusing it of leveraging the State Bank of India (SBI) to obscure the details of electoral bond donations and undermine a recent Supreme Court decision. This criticism follows the SBI’s plea to the country’s apex court for an extension until June 30 to disclose the specifics of electoral bonds redeemed by political parties, a move seen by the opposition as an attempt to veil dubious transactions ahead of the Lok Sabha elections.
According to Kashmir Media Service, the Congress’s allegations came in response to the SBI’s request, which contrasts sharply with the Supreme Court’s previous ruling deeming the electoral bonds scheme unconstitutional. The court had highlighted potential quid pro quo risks posed by anonymous donations to political parties and mandated the SBI to provide transaction details to the Election Commission by March 6.
Rahul Gandhi, a prominent Congress leader, questioned the delay in releasing the information, emphasizing the Supreme Court’s stance on the public’s right to transparency regarding electoral bonds. He suggested that the government’s reluctance to disclose these details was an attempt to conceal “Modi’s true face” as the nation approaches its general elections.
Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge echoed Gandhi’s sentiments, criticizing the electoral bonds scheme as “opaque, undemocratic,” and detrimental to fair political competition. He insinuated that the government’s timing to disclose bond details post the current Lok Sabha’s tenure, which concludes on June 16, appears to be a strategic move to conceal the BJP’s “shady dealings,” including allegations of cronyism in the allocation of contracts for significant infrastructure projects in exchange for bond donations.
Kharge’s statement highlighted a perception of desperation within the Modi government, accusing it of attempting to “bulldoze” the Supreme Court’s judgment by using the SBI as a protective barrier against scrutiny of its financial transactions through electoral bonds.
This controversy over electoral bonds underscores ongoing debates about transparency and accountability in political financing in India, with the Congress positioning itself against what it perceives as attempts by the ruling party to circumvent judicial oversight and public scrutiny.