Prime Minister Narendra Modi, addressing concerns over the electoral bonds scheme following its annulment by the Supreme Court, accused opposition parties of disseminating falsehoods and stressed that any decision, including this one, can have shortcomings.
In an interview with ANI, PM Modi reiterated that the electoral bonds initiative aimed to curb the influence of black money in elections. He criticized the opposition for making baseless allegations and emphasized that an honest reflection would reveal the scheme’s significance in unveiling the sources of political funding.
Regarding the allocation of donations, PM Modi highlighted that out of the companies under scrutiny by investigative bodies, a significant portion of contributions went to opposition parties, contrary to allegations of bias towards the BJP.
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PM Modi acknowledged the need for improvement in the electoral bonds scheme but emphasized its role in establishing transparency in political funding. He recalled the challenges faced by political parties, including the BJP, due to restrictions on cash donations and emphasized the necessity of alternative avenues like electoral bonds.
Moreover, PM Modi criticized the opposition for evading accountability and accused them of perpetuating falsehoods to divert attention from the broader issue of black money in elections.
Following the Supreme Court’s ruling in February, the electoral bonds scheme was declared unconstitutional, prompting the State Bank of India to cease issuance. In compliance with the court’s directive, the Election Commission of India published electoral bond data on its website, sourced from the State Bank of India.
