Prime Minister Narendra Modi hit back at criticism of the electoral loan scheme, saying “everyone regrets it if there is fair coverage” after the Supreme Court struck it down. He also argued that every decision can have its share of mistakes.
In an interview with ANI, PM Modi said that the electoral bond scheme was aimed at curbing black money in elections and the opposition wants to run away after the allegations.
The prime minister said his government’s election bond program was aimed at combating the use of “black money” in election campaigns, which refers to cash or the proceeds of crime, and that he “never claimed it was absolute way” to achieve this goal.
“Election bonds give you money. Which company gave it? How did they give it? Where did they give it? And that’s why I say, if they (opposition) think honestly, everyone will regret it,” said Prime Minister Narendra Modi in an interview with news agency ANI.
Modi pointed out to ANI that 16 companies that bought electoral bonds after money laundering cases and that 63 percent of the amount went to parties other than BJP.
Then he hit out at the opposition, saying, “Donating to the opposition… is the BJP doing this? 63 per cent went to them… and you are making allegations against us?” he asked.
“This is the success story of electoral bonds. There were electoral bonds … so you get the (money) trail, which company gave, how much, where. Whether good or bad happened can be a matter of dispute” Mr. Modi explained to ANI.
Modi criticized opposition
Modi also attacked the opposition for spreading “falsehoods” about the bonds and said his government had introduced a plan to curb “black money” during elections. He rejected criticism – that his Bharatiya Janata Party was the biggest beneficiary to the tune of thousands of crores.
The prime minister strongly denied the opposition’s allegations – that the political landscape was tilted in favor of the ruling party. The opposition pointed to changes such as a new law that allows the government to appoint election commission officials who are supposed to ensure free and fair elections. with the formation of the election commission, it will also face opposition.” Modi was referring to a law that required the opposition leader to be the third member of the three-member election commission. The other two are the prime minister and the union minister.
The prime minister also responded to allegations, that the government uses central agencies to harass rivals. He pointed out that only three percent of the cases registered by the ED were against political leaders.
He also stated that those involved in corruption have “paap ka dar” or fear of sin and honest people have nothing to fear. The Prime Minister’s comments come amid criticism over Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal’s arrest last month in connection with an alleged liquor policy scam. Kejriwal’s former deputy Manish Sisodia and Bharat Rashtra Samithi’s K Kavitha were also arrested in this case.
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