Cong slams BJP for ‘undermining democracy’ via electoral bonds

New Delhi: The Congress hit out at the BJP on Sunday after a case was lodged in Karnataka against Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and others on a complaint relating to the now-scrapped electoral bonds scheme, demanding her resignation and seeking an objective probe under the supervision of courts.

Addressing a press conference here along with Congress general secretary in-charge communications Jairam Ramesh, AICC spokesperson Abhishek Singhvi said his party hopes that that through the judicial process, those involved in this “corruption” will be summoned, their statements recorded and on that basis, they will be arrested.

“All the agencies, all the official organs know very well how to proceed because they have been proceeding against a large number of political opponents (of the BJP) in the last 11 years. They do not have to be told how to proceed.... We would certainly demand an objective probe under the courts’ control but more importantly, ultimately supervised either by the Supreme Court or an SIT of the Supreme Court,” Singhvi said.

“The first need of the hour is for the legal process started by this court order to take its course and to be supervised by courts -- both the high court and ultimately, the Supreme Court -- to prevent any interference or distortion or subordination,” he said.

The opposition party reiterated its demand for a Supreme Court-monitored inquiry through a special investigation team (SIT) into the electoral bonds scheme.

Ramesh alleged that four ways were used to extort money through the “conspiracy of electoral bonds -- prepaid bribery, postpaid bribery, post-raid bribery and through shell companies”.

He said the finance minister should immediately resign on political, legal and moral grounds as she is “guilty”.

Ramesh said the FIR was lodged following court orders and the Congress has nothing to do with it.

He said his party has been demanding a Supreme Court-monitored inquiry through an SIT into the electoral bonds scheme and it reiterates that demand. Singhvi also accused the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) at the Centre of “undermining democracy”.

“The finance minister cannot do this on her own. We know who is number one and number two (in the government) and this was done on whose directions,” he said.

“The larger issue is the level-playing field, which is necessary for free and fair polls. Free and fair polls are critical for democracy. This is an attack on our democratic system,” Singhvi said while terming it “EBS -- Extortionist BJP Scheme”.

A case was registered against Sitharaman and others on Saturday on the directions of a court in Bengaluru, following a complaint

relating to the now-scrapped electoral bonds scheme.