IT News
Imphal, Mar 7:
Manipur Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) spokesperson Ningombam Bupenda Meitei today highlights the significance of the recent Supreme Court judgment on the Electoral Bonds’ Scheme introduced by the BJP government in 2017 verdict.
Speaking to reporters at Congress Bhavan BT road, Imphal, Ningombam Bhupenda said that the Supreme Court’s directive, issued on February 15, 2024, mandates the State Bank of India (SBI) to furnish details of Electoral Bonds purchased and contributions made to political parties between April 12, 2019, and the present date to the Election Commission of India (ECI) by March 6, 2024.
“However, on March 4th, 2024, the SBI filed an application seeking an extension until June 30, 2024, citing logistical challenges in decoding, compiling, and comparing the vast amount of information regarding electoral bonds”, Bhupenda said .
He expressed concern over this delay, questioning the need for such an extensive timeline given the SBI’s advanced technological capabilities and alleged that the delay is a deliberate attempt to conceal the BJP’s financial irregularities and its disproportionate benefit from the Electoral Bonds’ Scheme.
Present with him during the meeting with the reporters were key party officials, including S. Jeeten, General Secretary (Admn.), Amir Hussain, General Secretary (Org.), and H. Meghachandra, General Secretary (Elections).
Bhupenda also highlighted the substantial disparity in political funding, with the BJP receiving over 55% of the total electoral bond contributions, totaling Rs 6,566 crores. He raised suspicions that the BJP government may have pressured the SBI to withhold information about donors to avoid public scrutiny ahead of the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.
Bhupenda emphasized the need for transparency in political finance and called for immediate disclosure of information regarding electoral bonds to ensure free and fair elections. He criticized the Electoral Bonds’ Scheme for bypassing previous safeguards against corporate funding of political parties, posing a threat to democratic principles.
The Manipur Pradesh Congress Committee reiterated its commitment to upholding democratic values and urged the public to demand accountability and transparency from political parties, particularly the BJP, in the electoral process, he said
