Asked if the BJP would declare the list of donors like some parties had, Home Minister Amit Shah says:
“I am telling you that once the details are declared, Opposition INDI camp will not be able to show its face. Rahul Gandhi just reads out speeches from what people and lawyers handed him over. He doesn’t know he has shot himself in the foot.”
“Earlier, donations would come in cash. So suppose a person gave Rs 1,500, then Rs 100 would go to the party fund and the rest would go in the party leader’s pocket. Once bonds came, this entire amount would be transferred to the party fund via cheque. This is not what the INDI bloc was used to.
They (Opposition) didn’t care if money was spent on party’s works or elections but their generations should live well.”
The Supreme Court struck down the electoral bond scheme on Feb15, 2024, calling it “unconstitutional “. The court said the scheme violates the right to information under Article 19(1)(a) of the Constitution by making anonymous donations to political parties.
The Court also said that the scheme allows political parties to coerce people to contribute, and that it’s “unconstitutional, not fool-proof”.
Rubbishing the charge that the party had amassed huge funds via bonds, Shah said: “We have been accused that we got a lot of money via bonds but so did the INDIA bloc. We have 303 seats, 17 governments, party units in every state. In 2019, we got a sizeable proportion of funds in bonds when the Model Code of Conduct was in place and no new schemes or policies could be announced.
"We got more than ninety per cent of funds in bonds after the MCC was imposed. So the argument that it was affecting government’s policies is false.”
Taking a dig at Rahul Gandhi, who had termed the bonds as ‘hafta vasooli’, Shah said: “Gandhi also got Rs 1,600 crore. He should explain where he got that ‘hafta vasooli’ from. We say it is transparent donation but if he says it is vasooli, he should give details.”
The Home Minister insisted that the BJP believed in a system of transparency.
“In 2014, BJP got 81 per cent donations in cash wherein the donor was not known. In 2018, this number dipped to 17 per cent. In 2023, it was only 3 per cent. So far as confidentiality is concerned, we have a federal structure and wanted to avoid a situation where a state government becomes vindictive towards someone who doesn’t give funds to them.
So, the confidentiality clause was introduced. We believe in being transparent.”
Speaking at CNN-News18’s Rising Bharat Summit, Shah said: “The Supreme Court’s decision is binding on all citizens and I respect their verdict on electoral bonds. But my personal opinion is that bonds had almost ended black money in politics.
This is why the entire INDIA bloc led by Rahul Gandhi was against the bonds and they wanted the old system of cut money to rule over politics once again.”
2014-2024 : The Decade that was ---- Headlines, Thematic Pointers and Quotes
India becomes unapologetically Hindu under PM Modi : (UCA News Aug 5, 2021)
Communists and Congress - Two sinking ships - Organiser, Oct 16
Return of Taliban triggers new hate wave in India, UCA News
--- Hindu hardliners begin trending #GoToAfghanistan while Muslim clerics call for an end to co-education
Samajwadi Party lawmaker Shafiqur Rehman Burq sought to justify events in Afghanistan by saying: “When India was under British rule, our country fought for freedom. Now the Taliban wants to free their country and run it.”
Can Rahul Gandhi's revival derail Modi's BJP?
(Nov 2017 --- as Congress puts up a stiff fight against the saffron party in Gujarat)
The Gujarat election will help indicate how popular Modi's two major policies — the withdrawal of high-value bank notes and a new taxation system — have proved with voters, said G. V. Anshuman Rao, a socio-political analyst based in the southern city of Hyderabad.
(Aug 2017)
Pranab Mukherjee given 'farewell'
As a virtual last words of wisdom, the veteran Pranab had cautioned the incumbent Modi government against Ordinance route in bringing about new laws.
"....there should be no recourse to Ordinances on monetary matters". The Ordinance route should not be taken on matters which are being considered or have been introduced in the House or if before a committee of the House.
The President's terse message on Ordinance route often adopted by the Modi Government -- especially in first two years of its coming to power in 2014 and 2015 -- was significant.
New Delhi, Jul 23 (2017)
If there is a single big thing that a serving politician or even an individual could learn from Indira Gandhi -- according to President Pranab Mukhejee - is "acknowledging" of own mistakes.
In fact, elections in Nagaland are one of the most expensive affairs in northeast India. Many in political circles admit the BJP's "resourceful politics" helped to win seats in 2018, reducing the effect of the powerful Nagaland Baptist Church Council's appeal for voters to stay away from the BJP.
In 2018:
‘Religion’ has apparently again emerged a tool between India and Pakistan – two traditional rivals and of course neighbours. This time Sikhism is apparently helping both the countries to come forward for peaceful talks.
Harsimrat Kaur Badal, a Sikh woman Indian Minister in Narendra Modi cabinet, has rightly described the ‘Kartarpur Corridor’ between India and Pakistan as a ‘corridor of peace’. But can it deliver?
Upper Caste anguish threaten 'Tsunami like' mood against BJP in Rajasthan (+ Other Stories)
BJP lost 2018 assembly elections to Congress in Rajasthan
Sept 2018 :::
French Govt comes in aide of Modi regime : Statement by the Spokesperson of the Ministry of Europe and Foreign Affairs
Statement by the Spokesperson of the Ministry of Europe and Foreign Affairs.
Paris, 21 September 2018
The intergovernmental agreement signed on 23rd September 2016 between the French and Indian governments for supplying India with 36 Rafale aircraft concerns the obligations of the French government solely with regard to ensuring the delivery and quality of this equipment.
The French government is in no manner involved in the choice of Indian industrial partners who have been, are being, or will be selected by French companies. In accordance with India’s acquisition procedure, French companies have the full freedom to choose the Indian partner companies that they consider to be the most relevant, then present for the Indian government’s approval the offsets projects that they wish to execute in India with these local partners so as to fulfil their obligations in this regard.
As it happens, agreements have already been signed by French companies with many Indian firms, both public and private, under the framework of Indian laws.
"INC -- Congress - is stated to be one of the main culprits in drawing benefits from the electoral bonds scheme. But I understand that the saffron party and many others too did not lag behind in making money. Otherwise, what were their sources of electoral funding... You may have a better and more explicit explanation 😊 Very interesting indeed 👌👍 ::: - Asheem Poddar, Kolkata
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