Electoral Bonds Is A Huge Fraud, Says Congress In Parliament

Opposition raised concerns on electoral bonds in the Parliament.

Opposition raises concerns on electoral bonds in the Parliament. 

(Image: Arnica Kala/TheQuint)

“Desh ko loota jaa raha hai (Government is looting the nation). This is a huge fraud. We will not let this issue die down,” said Congressman Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury on the controversial electoral bonds scheme on Thursday, 21 November, during the winter session of the Parliament in the Lok Sabha.

The Opposition raised the electoral bonds issue in both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha on Thursday. "We will make the government answerable. Reaching out to Opposition parties to build a floor strategy against the government, we want a detailed discussion on it," Congress told ANI.

The Congress sources also revealed to ANI that the party will stage a walkout in the winter session and hold a protest at the Gandhi statue.

Congress MP Shashi Tharoor told media that the Opposition had been raising “serious objections” on electoral bonds ever since it was introduced. He also said that it has “become a way for rich corporations and individuals to influence improperly political parties, particularly the ruling party”.

In spite of Election Commission of India and RBI’s objections on electoral bonds, as revealed in the RTI, the PM Modi government introduced it 2017, said Congress MP Manish Tewari in Lok Sabha.

Rajya Sabha Adjourned Till Noon

Rajya Sabha was adjourned till noon as Opposition parties including the Congress protested after the Chair did not allow discussion on the issue of electoral bonds and privatisation of state-owned firms.

Soon after laying of listed papers by ministers on the table of the House, Chairman M Venkaiah Naidu said he has received notices from several members to suspend business and take up discussions on the RBI's objection to electoral bonds.

“They (the notices) do not warrant suspension of other business and (notices) taken upon priority.”

M Venkaiah Naidu, Chairman, Rajya Sabha

However, Congress members were on their feet and held protests.

The Quint’s investigation has revealed that the electoral bonds makes the political funding system opaque which can lead to influx of black money in the donation process.

In response to the petition filed in the Supreme Court in April 2019, the Election Commission of India has also pointed out how electoral bonds are a big threat to democracy.