Amit Shah Rebuts Rahul Gandhi on Electoral Bonds: Did the Opposition Also Get Bonds? Is It Extortion?

Union Home Minister Amit Shah responded to the opposition’s criticism of the now-scrapped electoral bonds system in an exclusive interview with NDTV. He countered Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s assertion that the system was the “world’s biggest extortion scheme” by questioning whether the donations received by opposition parties through bonds could also be referred to as “extortion”. Shah emphasized that the opposition parties have also received donations through electoral bonds and urged Rahul Gandhi to address whether they too have engaged in extortion.

He refuted the allegations of corruption and attempted to dispel confusion created by the opposition parties on the issue leading up to the Lok Sabha polls. On February 15, the Supreme Court delivered a significant ruling, declaring the electoral bonds scheme unconstitutional as it infringes on citizens’ right to information. The court deemed the scheme arbitrary and highlighted the potential for a quid pro quo arrangement between political parties and donors.

The bench of five judges concluded that the scheme’s objective of combating black money and maintaining donor confidentiality was insufficient justification. The court also emphasized that electoral bonds are not the only means to address black money in politics. Data from the State Bank of India, disclosed by the Election Commission of India, revealed that the BJP had received the highest funds through electoral bonds, amounting to Rs 6,986.5 crore since their introduction in 2018.

The Trinamool Congress and the Congress followed with Rs 1,397 crore and Rs 1,334 crore, respectively.