'Rahul Gandhi has shot himself in the foot… won’t be able to show face once record of who all donated to INDI alliance is out': Amit Shah

Even as the Opposition has been targeting the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) over electoral bonds scheme and dared it to disclose the details of funds it received through the exercise, Union Minister Amit Shah on Wednesday hit out at the Opposition saying that INDI alliance will have no where to go when the list of the electoral bond donors is revealed.

Speaking at the News 18 Bharat Rising Summit, Shah said that Congress leader Rahul Gandhi should answer why he took Rs 6,200 crore through electoral bonds?

“When full data is out, INDI alliance will not be able to show their face,” said Amit Shah.

He said INDI alliance, under the leadership of Rahul Gandhi, was against the electoral bonds as they wanted the cut money, that they used to receive earlier, to rear its head once again in politics.

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While Shah acknowledged the decision of the Supreme Court on electoral bonds, he  expressed concern that the court’s decision may bring back black money into election funding.

“It was the verdict of the Supreme Court and everyone in the country is bound by it. I respect their judgment. But, in personal capacity, I want to say that black money was about to come to an end due to the system of bonds. It will now enter the electoral, political system again. This is the reason that Rahul Gandhi and INDI Alliance was against electoral bonds. Now the system of ‘cut’ (commission) will come back again,” said the Union Home Minister.

“Earlier, political donation used to come in cash. For example, if one donated Rs1500, only Rs100 used to go to the party chest, rest Rs1400 used to go into the pockets. That money used to be siphoned to Swiss banks or places where black money can be hidden. Under the bond system, the money used to go straight into the party’s account. Rahul Gandhi is used to the old systems—whether the money goes to party or no, it must continue to line their own pockets,” he said, adding, “We tried to make the entire system transparent.”

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He said there is also an angle of anonymity to it, which ensured that donors to parties were not haunted by the other parties when they came to power.

“Also, there is the angle of anonymity. We are a big country. Different parties are in power in different states. Anonymity ensured that donors to parties were not haunted by the other parties when they came to power,” said the Home Minister.

“We have 300 seats in Lok Sabha; governments in 17 states. We have got Rs 6200 crore as political donation, but the INDI Alliance too has got the same. How do you explain that?” he asked.

He also warned that the Enforcement Directorate will take strict action against anyone found to be corrupt.

Reacting on the Opposition’s comments on ED and CBI raids, the Union Home Minister said, “They want a system that there should be no action on politicians. Rs 51 crore were seized from Mamata ji’s minister. Rs 350 crore from Congress MP’s house. What do they think, people are not watching?”