Union Home Minister Amit Shah is of the opinion that the Supreme Court’s resolution to strike down electoral bonds will convey again the reign of black cash in politics.

Speaking at CNN-News18’s Rising Bharat Summit, Shah stated: “The Supreme Court’s resolution is binding on all residents and I respect their verdict on electoral bonds. But my private opinion is that bonds had virtually ended black cash in politics. This is why all the INDIA bloc led by Rahul Gandhi was towards the bonds and so they wished the previous system of minimize cash to rule over politics as soon as once more.”

Explaining the rationale behind the charge, he said: “Earlier, donations would come in cash. So suppose a person gave Rs 1,500, then Rs 100 would go to the party fund and the rest would go in the party leader’s pocket. Once bonds came, this entire amount would be transferred to the party fund via cheque. This is not what the INDIA bloc was used to. They didn’t care if money was spent on party’s works or elections but their generations should live well.”

The house minister additionally stated BJP believed in a system of transparency. “In 2014, BJP received 81 per cent donations in money whereby the donor was not recognized. In 2018, this quantity dipped to 17 per cent. In 2023, it was solely 3 per cent. So far as confidentiality is anxious, we have now a federal construction and wished to keep away from a scenario the place a state authorities turns into vindictive in direction of somebody who doesn’t give funds to them. So, the confidentiality clause was launched. We imagine in being clear.”

Rubbishing the charge that the party had amassed huge funds via bonds, Shah said: “We have been accused that we got a lot of money via bonds but so did the INDIA bloc. We have 303 seats, 17 governments, party units in every state. In 2019, we got a sizeable proportion of funds in bonds when the Model Code of Conduct was in place and no new schemes or policies could be announced. We got more than ninety per cent of funds in bonds after the MCC was imposed. So the argument that it was affecting government’s policies is false.”

Taking a dig at Rahul Gandhi, who had termed the bonds as ‘hafta vasooli’, Shah stated: “Gandhi additionally received Rs 1,600 crore. He ought to clarify the place he received that ‘hafta vasooli’ from. We say it’s clear donation but when he says it’s vasooli, he ought to give particulars.”

Asked if the BJP would declare the list of donors like some parties had, Shah said: “I am telling you that once the details are declared, INDIA camp will not be able to show its face. Gandhi just reads out speeches from what people write for him. He doesn’t know he has shot himself in the foot.”

The Supreme Court of India struck down the electoral bond scheme on February 15, 2024, calling it “unconstitutional “. The courtroom stated the scheme violates the proper to data beneath Article 19(1)(a) of the Constitution by making nameless donations to political events. The courtroom additionally stated that the scheme permits political events to coerce folks to contribute, and that it’s “unconstitutional, not fool-proof”.