By K Raveendran
The accusation by the Congress party on how the Modi government used the central agencies such as the CBI and Enforcement Directorate to coerce donations, has the potential to become the biggest scandal of Modi’s rule, perhaps something with the dimensions of the 2G spectrum scandal of the UPI regime.
The Congress party has demanded a probe into allegations of quid-pro-quo between BJP and 30 companies that have allegedly donated huge sums of money to the ruling party while being under the scanner of federal agencies and demanded a thorough investigation. Adding further mystery to the arrangement is the charge that among these firms as many as 23 had never donated any money to BJP between 2014 and the time of raids by CBI, ED and the tax department ordered against them.
The claim has further lengthened the dark shadow over Indian democracy and exposes a dangerous nexus between political funding and institutional autonomy, potentially warping the very foundation of fair elections and accountability. While the BJP is taking great pains to deny the charge, the underlying issues demand scrutiny and will linger for a long time to come.
The Congress has alleged that several companies facing investigation by central agencies mysteriously donated to the BJP soon after, hinting at a possible quid pro quo: donations in exchange for leniency or withdrawal of investigations. The obstinacy of the government in defending the opacity surrounding political funding further fuels the suspicion. While the BJP claims these donations are voluntary, the lack of transparency leaves room for speculation and erodes public trust in the system.
If a company facing investigation donates to the party in power, it creates a perception, even if unproven, that the donation could influence the investigation’s outcome. This not only undermines the independence of investigative agencies but also creates an uneven playing field for political parties, favouring those with access to deep pockets and the ability to curry favour with the government. This is apart from policy favours bestowed by the government in gratitude of generous help from the big corporates, the most stunning example having been the Modi government’s equations with the Adanis.
The concern has been amplified by the Supreme Court verdict in the electoral bond scheme, which has outrightly rejected the idea and questioned the sincerity of the government to fight corruption and money power in electoral politics. While aiming to curb anonymous donations, the scheme ironically created an opaque system where the identities of donors remained hidden. This lack of transparency makes it difficult to track the source of funding and identify any potential pressure exerted on donors. In essence, the scheme shields the identity of those who bankroll political campaigns, raising concerns about potential influence peddling and corruption.
With the help of opaque funding mechanisms, the ruling party has been amassing vast sums of money, which are then used to buy elected representatives to destabilise opposition governments, bribe voters, influence media coverage, and sway opinion through targeted campaigns. This creates an uneven playing field, where candidates with deeper pockets have a distinct advantage, drowning out the voices of genuine merit and public service.
The government has been resisting calls for greater transparency in election funding and has not complied with even the Supreme Court orders in this respect. Not only that the government has allowed little light to fall on these donations, it has been stonewalling all moves for transparency. It argues that the names of donors should not be made public in order to protect their privacy and that releasing the names could lead to harassment and intimidation of donors. The government is citing even the secrecy angle in the banking laws to thwart disclosures, which the ruling party feels would be highly embarrassing whenever it happens.
Despite the stringent criticism by the Supreme Court in its latest verdict, the government claims it needs time to develop a mechanism for disclosing donor information while protecting their privacy. It also argues that the court order needs further clarification regarding the specific details that need to be made public. The court has asked the State Bank of India to submit details of all bonds purchased since the apex court’s interim order of April 12, 2019, in the electoral bond case to the Election Commission by March 6, and instructed the commission to publish these details on the website by March next.
The impact of corruption on elections extends far beyond the immediate outcome. It weakens democratic institutions, breeds cynicism, and discourages participation in the electoral process. It is not a fight against corruption in elections, it is battle for the very soul of democracy. (IPA Service)
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