Will such
government which is blocking EC move for transparent funding to
political parties, be able to bring back black money stashed outside
India ?
- Editor
|
New Delhi : In the seven years between 2004 and 2011, the Congress received over Rs.2,004 crore from donors; the BJP got about Rs.994 crore. Smaller and regional parties too got significant sums.
These amounts were declared by parties;
however, the source of over 85 per cent of donations is not known. The
parties say donors gave sums less than Rs.20,000, and need not be made public.
The Election Commission's move to make party funding more transparent has not found favour with the union law ministry.
Sources said the ministry recently wrote
to the EC, saying its recommendations were not in conformity with Sec
29-C of the Representation of the People Act, 1951, which says parties
only have to submit a list of donations above Rs.20,000.
The EC had recommended that anonymous
donations should be prohibited, and receipt of funds through sale of
"coupons" should be against proper receipts. It had also sought to bar
parties from receiving funds from government firms or foreign entities.
The poll panel had said all donors, including those who contribute less than Rs.20,000, should provide PAN numbers.
Last year, the EC had written to the law
ministry asking it to amend the format of reporting funds received by
parties. It had suggested that such contributions should have audit
reports attached, and parties should specify the amount received in
cheque and in cash.
The EC's move came after accounts
submitted by parties revealed that named donors constituted a very small
fraction. Parties claimed thousands of crores came from small unnamed
donors.
For instance, the BSP said it received a total Rs.172.67 crore in 2009-2011, but claimed that not a single donor gave above Rs.20,000.
WHAT EC WANTS
- PROHIBIT anonymous donations to parties or candidates.
- BAR parties from receiving funds from a govt company or foreign entity.
- ALL donors, including those who give less than Rs.20,000, must provide PAN numbers and other details.
- PARTIES must specify funds received by cheque and cash.
Source : The Indian Express
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