Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s remarks at the India Today Conclave on Friday shed light on the contentious issue of electoral bonds, emphasizing the government’s stance on the matter. Shah began by acknowledging the Supreme Court’s order on electoral bonds and reiterated the government’s intention behind introducing the scheme, which was to curb the influence of black money in politics. While acknowledging the need for improvement in the electoral bonds system, Shah expressed his belief that scrapping the scheme entirely may not be the most effective solution.
In his address, Shah highlighted the alleged malpractices prevalent in political funding, particularly the practice of opposition leaders accepting political donations in cash and diverting a significant portion of it for personal gain. He provided an example where a portion of the donation was deposited in the party’s name while the majority of it was pocketed by the individual. Shah specifically mentioned the Congress party’s alleged involvement in such practices over the years, indicating a systemic issue within the political landscape.
Responding to allegations that the electoral bonds scheme disproportionately benefited the BJP, Shah provided figures to illustrate the distribution of electoral bonds among various political parties. He disclosed that the BJP received approximately ₹6,000 crore out of a total of ₹20,000 crore in electoral bonds. Shah questioned the allocation of the remaining bonds, pointing out that other parties, including the TMC, Congress, BRS, BJD, and DMK, received significant amounts despite having fewer MPs than the BJP. This information was intended to dispel accusations of favoritism towards the BJP in the distribution of electoral bonds.
Shah’s remarks addressed the ongoing controversies surrounding the electoral bonds scheme, particularly the lack of transparency and the potential for misuse. Critics have raised concerns about the anonymity of donors and the possibility of corporations using the scheme to influence political parties without public scrutiny. The Congress party, in particular, has been vocal in its opposition to the electoral bonds system, alleging that it compromises transparency in political funding.
The home minister’s speech underscored the government’s commitment to electoral reform while defending the electoral bonds scheme as a mechanism to address the issue of black money in politics. Despite the criticisms and controversies surrounding the scheme, Shah’s remarks sought to justify the government’s position and challenge the narrative of unfair advantage to the BJP. As the debate over electoral funding continues, Shah’s comments provide insights into the government’s perspective and its efforts to address the challenges in the electoral process.
