Mumbai: Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis fired back at Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, questioning whether his party would return the electoral bonds it has received, amidst ongoing criticism of the scheme. Fadnavis suggested that Gandhi’s opposition to the electoral bonds stems from the fact that it has curbed avenues for using black money in elections.
As Rahul Gandhi’s Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra concluded in Mumbai, he continues to target the Narendra Modi-led central government over the electoral bonds scheme, branding it as an extortion tool utilized by the BJP for political maneuvering.
Addressing reporters following a state cabinet meeting, Fadnavis highlighted, “The BJP, being the largest party with 303 MPs, received 30 percent of the total bonds, while the remaining opposition, including the Congress, acquired 70 percent bonds.”
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Directly challenging Rahul Gandhi, Fadnavis queried, “Will Rahul Gandhi return the electoral bonds that the Congress received? Whom did the party threaten to obtain these funds?”
Asserting the transparency of electoral bonds, Fadnavis emphasized that these funds are duly recorded in the balance sheets of both political parties and corporate entities. He expressed confidence that any loopholes in the scheme would be addressed by the courts.
Attributing Rahul Gandhi’s criticism to the closure of avenues for black money in election funding, Fadnavis accused the Congress of seeking illicit funds for electoral purposes.
Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, present at the press conference, dismissed Gandhi’s criticisms, asserting the unwavering popularity of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Shinde claimed that only the “Modi Guarantee” holds sway in India, emphasizing the absence of a viable alternative to the Prime Minister. He suggested that Gandhi’s discontent stems from Modi’s global acclaim.
