Rahul Gandhi Lambasts BJP Over Electoral Bonds: A Deep Dive into the Controversy
In a fiery speech in Kozhikode, Rahul Gandhi, a stalwart of the Congress party, launched a blistering attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi regarding the contentious electoral bond scheme. He accused the scheme of being a conduit for what he termed as “the biggest corruption scandal” orchestrated by the BJP. Gandhi’s remarks come in the wake of the Supreme Court’s recent ruling in February, which deemed the electoral bond scheme unconstitutional.
During his address, Gandhi seized upon PM Modi’s recent interview with ANI, where the Prime Minister staunchly defended the electoral bond scheme, asserting its efficacy in combatting black money during elections. However, Gandhi vehemently refuted these claims, alleging that the BJP had amassed significant funds through the scheme by coercing contributions from Indian businessmen.
In a swift rebuttal, Union Minister and BJP candidate from Thiruvananthapuram, Rajeev Chandrasekhar, challenged Gandhi’s credibility on corruption matters, citing past scandals involving the Gandhi family, notably the infamous Bofors case.
The electoral bond scheme, introduced by the BJP government, faced severe criticism and legal challenges, culminating in the Supreme Court’s landmark decision earlier this year.
Gandhi further criticized PM Modi’s leadership style, accusing him of employing diversionary tactics to deflect attention from pressing issues like unemployment and inflation. He highlighted instances where PM Modi engaged in symbolic gestures, such as performing rituals underwater or making grandiose promises like hosting the Olympics in India or sending an Indian to the Moon, while sidestepping critical issues affecting ordinary citizens.
In a damning indictment, Gandhi accused the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and BJP of harboring intentions to undermine India’s Constitution. He underscored the Congress party’s unwavering commitment to safeguarding constitutional values and thwarting any attempts to erode democratic principles.
Earlier in the day, Gandhi condemned the Agnipath scheme, branding it as an affront to the Indian Army. Promising to abolish the scheme if the INDIA bloc ascended to power after the Lok Sabha polls, Gandhi criticized the initiative for deviating from established recruitment norms and imposing arbitrary mandates on aspiring youth.
The Agnipath Yojana, devised to recruit young individuals into the Armed Forces, came under scrutiny for its stringent eligibility criteria and perceived lack of transparency.
Amidst these developments, the political landscape in India remains fraught with tension and uncertainty, as key players spar over issues of transparency, accountability, and democratic integrity.