Congress On Electoral Bond: Congress on Thursday welcomed the Supreme Court’s decision on the electoral bond scheme, saying the decision will further strengthen the power of votes over notes. Party General Secretary Jairam Ramesh also expressed hope that the Supreme Court will also take note of the fact that the Election Commission is continuously refusing to meet the opposition parties on the issue of ‘Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail’ (VVPAT). The Supreme Court has termed the electoral bond scheme as a violation of the Right to Information Act and freedom of expression.
‘The awaited decision is very welcome’
Jairam Ramesh posted on social media platform And it will strengthen the voting power of the note.” He alleged that the Modi government is committing any kind of atrocities on the donors while giving privileges to the ‘donors’.
The Supreme Court has held the much-publicized electoral bond scheme of the Modi government to be a violation of the laws passed by the Parliament as well as the Constitution of India. The decision declaring electoral bonds unconstitutional is welcome. This will strengthen the power of voting on notes. This decision… https://t.co/ZWHAPDpdIv
— Jairam Ramesh (@Jairam_Ramesh) February 15, 2024
‘If everything is transparent then why so much insistence?’
Jairam Ramesh also said, “We also hope that the Supreme Court will take note of the fact that the Election Commission is continuously refusing to meet political parties on the issue of Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT). If everything is transparent then why so much insistence?” Senior Congress leader and former Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot posted on ‘X’, “The Supreme Court’s decision declaring electoral bonds unconstitutional is historic and welcome.”
‘Electoral bonds worked to increase corruption’
He claimed, “Electoral bonds served to increase corruption. It ended the transparency of political donations and directly benefited the ruling party BJP.” Ashok Gehlot said, “I have repeatedly said that electoral bonds are one of the biggest scams of independent India. Today the Supreme Court’s decision has proved that electoral bonds are a big scam of the NDA government.” He said, “This decision came late, but it is a very important decision to save the democracy of the country. Thanks to the Supreme Court.”
The Supreme Court’s decision declaring electoral bonds unconstitutional is historic and welcome. Electoral bonds worked to increase corruption. This ended the transparency of political donations and directly benefited the ruling party BJP. I have repeatedly said that electoral bonds are free… https://t.co/usCbyT7b5g
— Ashok Gehlot (@ashokgehlot51) February 15, 2024
‘Electoral bonds violate RTI’
A five-judge Constitution bench headed by Chief Justice DY Chandrachud delivered two separate but unanimous verdicts on petitions challenging the scheme. The Chief Justice said that this is a violation of freedom of speech and expression under Article 19(1)(A) of the Constitution. The bench said that the fundamental right to privacy of citizens also includes the right to political privacy and association. The electoral bond scheme was notified by the government on January 2, 2018. It was introduced as an alternative to donations to political parties as part of efforts to bring transparency in political funding.