De-register BJP, Congress for violating FCRA law, says former bureaucrat EAS Sarma

Visakhapatnam: Former bureaucrat EAS Sarma has sought the de-registration of the BJP and the Congress for violation the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA) by accepting donations from foreign sources.

In a letter to the Election Commission, the former Secretary said if the Commission failed to initiate proceedings to deregister both the parties forthwith, he would be forced to seek judicial intervention.

“Since both BJP and INC (Indian National Congress) have violated FCRA (1976) and FCRA (2010) by accepting donations from foreign sources, thereby infringing the Proviso to Section 29B of the Representation of the People Act (RPA) of 1951, they should be deemed to have violated the conditions precedent to their registration under Section 29A of RPA (1951),” he wrote.

The former IAS officer, who has been fighting against the deficiencies in the Indian democratic system, referred to the judgement of the Delhi High Court of 28 March 2014.

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The court had asked the government and the Election Commission to act against the two political parties for accepting foreign funds.

It had directed the Home Ministry and Election Commission to “relook and reappraise the receipts of the political parties and identify foreign contributions received by foreign sources” and act within six months.

Sarma, who was petitioner in the case along with the Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR), pointed out that both the BJP and Congress filed Special Leave Petitions (SLPs) in the Supreme Court.

The apex court on 29 November this year dismissed the petitions as both the parties withdrew their petitions.

Sarma said the government did not comply with the High Court for for more than 26 months, thereby prima facie committing contempt of the court directive.

“I have separately issued a notice to the Union Home Ministry that it should comply with the above cited court direction within 15 days failing which I will approach the Delhi High Court to intiate contempt of court proceedings,” he added.