The Aryavarth Express
Agency(New Delhi): At 77, Commodore Lokesh Batra (retd), a staunch advocate for transparency in governance, has played a pivotal role in the movement against the opaque nature of electoral bonds, preferring the designation of a ‘transparency campaigner’ rather than an ‘RTI activist’. From his home in Noida, Batra, with years of persistence behind him, witnessed a moment of victory as the Election Commission of India (ECI) confirmed receipt of electoral bond data from the State Bank of India (SBI), a culmination of a lengthy legal struggle leveraging the Right to Information Act, 2005.
This legal odyssey, ignited by Batra’s relentless pursuit of transparency, centered around the ‘ADR v/s Union of India’ case, challenging the anonymity provided to political donors through electoral bonds since 2018. The Supreme Court’s decision on February 15, declaring the bonds unconstitutional, demanded disclosure of the bond buyers and recipient parties by March 6, marking a significant stride towards electoral transparency.
Batra’s journey from Multan, pre-partition India, to a decorated naval officer who participated in the 1971 India-Pakistan war, and later a literacy and community service activist, underscores his lifelong commitment to public service and ethical governance. Post-retirement, his transition to a transparency campaigner involved meticulous use of RTI applications to shed light on the electoral bond scheme, revealing opposition from the RBI and the Election Commission to the amendments facilitating these bonds.
Through strategic collaborations with entities like the Association of Democratic Reforms (ADR) and legal stalwarts like Prashant Bhushan, Batra’s efforts have not only informed public discourse but also bolstered legal challenges against electoral bonds. His methodology in filing RTIs, focusing on exhaustive background provision and seeking comprehensive government files, has been instrumental in unraveling the complexities of political financing.
Despite the legal victory, Batra’s mission continues, with his sights set on analyzing the newly disclosed electoral bond data and investigating the PM Cares Fund, demonstrating his unwavering dedication to enhancing governance transparency. His story, marked by personal sacrifice and a relentless quest for reform, serves as a beacon for those committed to the principles of democracy and transparency in India’s political landscape.