New Delhi: Amid escalating controversy surrounding the recently disclosed electoral bonds scheme data, labeled by the opposition as ‘Independent India’s biggest scam,’ Union Home Minister Amit Shah stood firm, defending the government’s initiative. Shah asserted that the scheme aimed to eradicate black money from political financing.
Respecting the Supreme Court’s decision regarding electoral bonds, Shah emphasized the need for enhancing the scheme rather than abandoning it.
“Electoral bonds were introduced to end the influence of black money in Indian politics. I fully respect the Supreme Court decision scrapping the scheme because we respect democracy, but I feel that instead of completely scrapping the electoral bonds, it should have been improved,” Shah remarked at the India Today Conclave.
Addressing Congress’s accusations of corruption regarding electoral bonds, Shah countered the opposition, highlighting the party’s past acceptance of cash donations without proper documentation. He questioned the source of funding before the electoral bonds scheme.
“The leaders of the opposition party used to take political donations in cash because out of a donation of Rs 1,100, they used to deposit Rs 100 in the name of the party and keep Rs 1,000 in their own pockets,” Shah stated.
Shah delved into the recently released SBI data on electoral bonds, revealing that the BJP received only Rs 6,000 crore out of the total Rs 20,000 crore.
“I want to make my stance clear about it. Out of the total Rs 20,000 crore electoral bonds, the BJP has got approximately Rs 6,000 crore. Where did the rest of the bonds go? TMC has got Rs 1,600 crore, Congress got Rs 1,400 crore, BRS got Rs 1,200 crore, BJD got Rs 750 crore, and DMK got Rs 639 crore,” Shah explained.
Discussing the one nation, one election policy, Shah attributed it to the BJP and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, suggesting that its implementation would expedite development and curtail recurrent expenses.
“The idea of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP behind one nation, one election is that elections are held again and again in this country and the people are busy in elections and this leads to repeated expenditure. Due to the model code of conduct, many development works come to a halt. One nation, one election is a solution for this,” Shah elaborated.
