Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge welcomed the Supreme Court’s decision striking down the Electoral Bonds scheme as unconstitutional and said the party had called it opaque and undemocratic when it was launched.
Welcoming the apex court’s order, Kharge tweeted, “On the day of the launching of Electoral Bonds scheme the Congress party had called it opaque and undemocratic. Subsequently in its 2019 manifesto Congress party promised to scrap Modi Govt's dubious scheme.”
Kharge added, “We welcome the decision of the Supreme Court today, which has struck down this 'Black Money Conversion' scheme of the Modi Government, calling it ‘Unconstitutional’. We remember how the Modi Government, PMO and FM bulldozed every institution - RBI, Election Commission, Parliament and Opposition to fill BJP's coffers.”
Kharge charged 95 per cent of funding under the scheme was received by the BJP. “We hope that Modi Govt will stop resorting to such mischievous ideas in future and listens to the Supreme Court, so that Democracy, Transparency and level-playing field persists,” he added.
Congress secretary (Communications) said the long-awaited verdict is hugely welcome and will reinforce the power of votes over notes.
The CPI(M) in a statement said, “The Polit Bureau of the CPI(M) hails the historic judgment of the Supreme Court, which has struck down the electoral bonds scheme as unconstitutional. By this verdict, this unscrupulous scheme designed to finance the ruling party by anonymous corporate donors has been completely scrapped. It is gratifying that the main contentions set out in the petition against the scheme have been upheld.”
The Sharad Pawar-led NCP faction also welcomed the decision and said, “The Supreme Court's decision to strike down the electoral bonds scheme, calling it ‘unconstitutional’, is a very welcome move. There should be transparency and accountability of every donation that comes to a political party."
-with PTI inputs.
