Rahul Gandhi and Prime Minister Narendra Modi continued to clash in the ongoing Parliament session, with Gandhi's fiery speech facing expunction from the records. He wrote to the Speaker requesting the restoration of his remarks, while Congress MP KC Venugopal alleged bias against BJP MP Anurag Thakur, whose speech was treated differently. In his reply to the Lok Sabha debate, Venugopal challenged the Prime Minister to investigate the electoral bond scam, calling it one of the biggest scandals in the country.
Rahul Gandhi, Anurag Thakur Lock Horns in Parliament over Electoral Bond Scam
Introduction
The ongoing Parliament session has witnessed heated exchanges between Rahul Gandhi and Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The latest flashpoint revolves around the alleged Electoral Bond scam, which Gandhi has accused the BJP of perpetrating.
Allegations and Counter-allegations
In a fiery speech, Gandhi attacked the BJP, accusing it of using electoral bonds to funnel illegal funds into its coffers. He cited a report by the Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR), which claimed that over 90% of electoral bonds were purchased by shell companies.
In response, BJP MP Anurag Thakur defended the government's use of electoral bonds, claiming they had increased transparency in political funding. He accused Gandhi of making baseless allegations without any evidence.
Speaker's Intervention
The Speaker of the Lok Sabha, Om Birla, expunged portions of Gandhi's speech from the records, citing unparliamentary language. This prompted Gandhi to write to Birla, requesting the restoration of his remarks.
Congress MP KC Venugopal alleged bias against Thakur, whose speech was not treated similarly. He challenged the Prime Minister to investigate the electoral bond scam, calling it one of the biggest scandals in the country.
Background
Electoral bonds are financial instruments introduced by the BJP-led government in 2017 to make political funding more transparent and accountable. They are issued by the State Bank of India and can be donated to political parties. However, critics have raised concerns about the anonymity of donors and the potential for misuse.
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