Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Vinay Sahasrabuddhe while speaking at the ABP Networks' Idea of India Summit said that the electoral bonds scheme was intended to bring in more transparency in the system of electoral funding.
"Several government decisions are open to judicial scrutiny. Original intention was to bring transparency and accountability. But if it is not acceptable to the Supreme Court. We accept it," the BJP leader said while speaking at ABP Networks' Idea of India Summit.
On this, the Congress MP Shashi Tharoor was quick to reply, "Where is the transparency?"
Tharoor said that the Supreme Court's verdict declaring the Electoral Bonds scheme unconstitutional is widely applauded across the country. He further said that only BJP benefited from the said scheme while other parties suffered.
ABP Network's annual 'Ideas Of India Summit' is back with its third edition. Both Tharoor and Sahasrabuddhe debated in a session titled 'General Elections 2024: Will Democracy Win?' on February 23. The session comes just weeks ahead of the Lok Sabha elections in the world's biggest democracy. Both political stalwarts held a fiery session at the 'Ideas of India Summit' and delved into 'The People's Agenda' to explore the various facets of the upcoming Lok Sabha elections 2024.
Speaking on his party's prospects in the upcoming elections, Sahasrabuddhe said that BJP will win over 300 seats in the Lok Sabha elections. Tharoor was, however, quick to contest the claim and said the ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA) will be lucky to go anywhere close.
The BJP leader further said that while the dispensation at the Centre was working on a transformative vision in tune with an ‘aspirational India’, the Congress was ‘out of tune’ with the changing times.
Calling out the ‘complacency’ of the BJP and their allies, Tharoor said their tall claims were not in sync with the realities on the ground. Tharoor further appealed to the Indian citizens not to give up on the Opposition.