All India Congress Committee (AICC) president Mallikarjun Kharge demanded a Supreme Court-monitored special investigation into the electoral bonds scheme through which the ruling BJP encashed ₹6,065 crore over five years, and said the bank accounts of the BJP must be frozen till completion of the probe.
He claimed that several companies purchased electoral bonds soon after they faced raids by Central agencies, such as the Enforcement Directorate and Income Tax Department. While the BJP has received the highest amount in electoral bonds from corporates, the bank account of the Congress, which received donations from party workers, was frozen.
Links to raids
Mr. Kharge sought an investigation into alleged links between donation of funds by companies that were either raided by I-T and ED officials, or received notices from Central agencies, and funds received by the BJP. The Supreme Court monitored investigation is needed since the apex court has unanimously struck down the Centre’s electoral bond scheme.
Data related to the electoral bonds was released by the State Bank of India and published by the Election Commission of India on March 14, following an order by the Supreme Court.
Mr. Kharge said Prime Minister Narendra Modi claims credit for the government’s performance and all its schemes. “Though Mr. Modi proclaims na khaunga, na khane dunga (alluding — will not take a bribe, will not allow others to do so). However, the Supreme Court has exposed how the BJP has made money out of electoral bonds. SBI data shows that BJP received more than 50% of the donations while the Congress secured a meagre 11%,” said Mr. Kharge.
No level playing field
Addressing mediapersons at the party office in Bengaluru on March 15, the AICC chief pointed to the bank accounts of Congress being frozen to highlight his claim of lack of a “level playing field”. “The Income Tax department was instructed to do this (freeze account of Congress), and nearly ₹300 crore of party’s funds are frozen,” he said.
“How can we contest the election? You (BJP) are collecting crores of rupees from corporates through electoral bonds while Congress got donations from workers, MPs and other small donors. Our account is closed while their account is open. They got more than ₹6,000 crore while others got very little,” he said. “A special investigation is necessary to find out whether they got money in return for favours, or through harassment, or seeking donations in return for closure of cases.”
Mr. Kharge claimed that those who faced ED and I-T raids have joined the BJP, and got party posts. “They become clean once they join the BJP,” the AICC chief said.
