“Electoral Bonds Powder”: Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah Takes A Dig At BJP (image-X/siddaramaiah)
In an X (formerly known as Twitter) post, Mr. Siddaramaiah accused the BJP of collecting “bribes from crony industrialists, tax evaders, and criminals.” The Chief Minister of Karnataka also shared a picture parodying the Ponds powder, mocking the BJP.
He described the electoral bond list published by the Election Commission of India (ECI) as the “perfect example” to expose the BJP’s corruption.
Taking a dig at the huge amount the BJP received through electoral bonds, the Congress leader said, “PM Modi has found a way to convert all of this black money into white using Electoral bonds. Giving industrialists a free hand to plunder India resources in return for donations is horrific, and the Prime Minister has failed his country by doing so.”
The picture posted by the CM shows a parody advertisement featuring “Electoral Bonds Powder,” a wordplay on the Ponds powder. With a photo of a smiling PM Modi in the background, the tagline says, “Turns Rs 6,061 crore black money into white.”
The Electoral Bond list published by the ECI is a perfect example of how @BJP4India has been collecting bribes from crony industrialists, tax evaders, and criminals.
Moreover, PM Modi has found a way to convert all of this black money into white using Electoral Bonds. Giving… pic.twitter.com/4L21WPIOou
— Siddaramaiah (@siddaramaiah) March 15, 2024
Following the Supreme Court ruling, on March 12, the Election Commission of India (ECI) released the electoral bonds data as received from the State Bank of India (SBI). Based on the data uploaded on the official website of the ECI, after encashing, the BJP received Rs 6,061 crores.
Meanwhile, Trinamool Congress received around Rs 1,610 crores while Congress received Rs 1,422 crores.
Two of the top donors includes Future Gaming and Hotel Services and Megha Engineering and Infrastructures Ltd.
On February 15, the Supreme Court had declared the electoral bond scheme as “unconstitutional,” citing violations of citizens’ right to information and right to freedom of speech and expression.
