The Aryavarth Express
Agency(Assam): In a vocal demonstration of dissent, the Assam Congress took to the streets in Guwahati, assembling outside the State Bank of India’s (SBI) Northeast headquarters to demand the immediate release of details pertaining to electoral bonds. This protest comes in the wake of the Supreme Court’s decision to strike down the government’s electoral bonds scheme as “unconstitutional,” citing concerns over transparency and potential infringements on democratic principles.
Led by Mira Barthakur Goswami, president of the Assam Pradesh Mahila Congress, alongside senior Congress leaders, the protestors voiced their dissatisfaction with the delay in disclosing the electoral bond details, questioning the efficiency of “digital India” as touted by the government. The Congress’s contention centers around the alleged advantages accrued by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) through the electoral bonds scheme, urging the SBI to adhere to the Supreme Court’s directives to ensure transparency and accountability.
The Supreme Court’s verdict on February 15 marked a pivotal moment, dismantling the anonymous political funding mechanism introduced in 2018 and mandating the disclosure of bond purchasers, bond values, and recipients to foster a more transparent electoral process. Contrary to the government’s arguments that the scheme aimed to mitigate black money circulation and enhance transparency in political funding, the apex court identified it as a violation of constitutional rights, including the freedom of speech and the right to information.
In response to the Supreme Court’s directive, the SBI sought an extension until June 30 to compile and disclose comprehensive details on the electoral bonds encashed by political parties since the scheme’s inception. The top court has mandated that these details, including the dates of encashment and bond denominations, be furnished to the Election Commission for public disclosure on its official website by March 13.
This development has intensified calls for greater transparency in political funding mechanisms, highlighting the ongoing debate over the balance between privacy in political contributions and the public’s right to information regarding the financial underpinnings of electoral politics.