Electoral Bonds: Congress president Kharge demands special investigation, freezing of BJP accounts

Congress President M Mallikarjun Kharge on Friday called for a special investigation conducted into the electoral bonds scheme after the details revealed that BJP encashed more than Rs 6,060 crore over five years adding that its bank accounts must be frozen until the investigation is complete.

"I demand an inquiry at the highest level and unless the truth comes out, their (BJP) account should also be frozen. A special investigation should be done to find out whether they got money in return for any favors or through harassment or asking for donations for their cases to be closed," Kharge said while talking to reporters.

He also noted that several companies purchased electoral bonds soon after they faced raids by central agencies such as Enforcement Directorate and Income Tax Department.

Speaking about the use of central enforcement agencies by the government, Kharge said, “So there are many dubious donors. Who are they? People who have donated, either they are involved in ED case, Income Tax or raised by these agencies. Ultimately the Government of India, particularly (Narendra) Modi and his party pressured these people to give more donations to their party. Otherwise this much of difference cannot be there.”

Those who faced ED and IT raids have gone to the BJP and got (party) posts there, Kharge further alleged, adding, “They have become immediately 'clean' in BJP.”

Highlighting that the Congress's bank accounts were frozen and seized due to which they cannot be operated, Kharge said, "IT (Income-Tax department) was instructed to do this and nearly Rs 300 crore is frozen." 

"How can we go to the election? You are collecting crores of rupees through electoral bonds, while Congress got through donations from workers, MPs and other small donors. Our account is closed, their account is open. They got Rs 6,000 crore, while others got very little," Kharge said.

"Prime Minister says 'Na khaunga, na khane dunga (Will not eat, will not let others eat)', but today it has been exposed by the Supreme Court how the BJP has made money out of electoral bonds. SBI data shows BJP got 50 per cent donations and Congress got only 11 per cent," he added.

According to the Election Commission's recent release, the BJP's total redemption of electoral bonds stands at Rs 6,060.52 crore, the highest among all political parties. This includes a substantial redemption during the 2019 Lok Sabha elections and the state elections of November 2023 in Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh, and Telangana.

(with PTI inputs)