Electoral Bonds | The Biggest Scam in History of India? | Explained by Dhruv Rathee

Summary

The video script discusses the Electoral Bond Scam in India, alleging it as the largest scam in the nation's history, involving a network of corruption where political parties receive kickbacks in exchange for business opportunities. It criticizes the Modi government's introduction of the Electoral Bonds Scheme, which it claims was used to hide the identity of donors and facilitate this corruption. The script also highlights several instances of companies involved in questionable activities that have benefited from government contracts after making political donations, suggesting a direct link between donations and state favors.

Takeaways

• 📢 The script discusses a major scam involving the Electoral Bond Scheme in India, which the speaker claims is the biggest in the country's history.
• 🏦 The Electoral Bond Scheme was introduced in 2017 by the Modi government as a means for political parties to collect funds, but it was criticized for its lack of transparency.
• 🤫 The scheme was designed to keep the identities of donors and the amounts given to political parties hidden from the public.
• 🏛️ The Supreme Court of India declared the Electoral Bond Scheme unconstitutional after seven years, leading to the gradual revelation of associated scams.
• 📉 Home Minister Amit Shah's claim about the distribution of Electoral Bonds funds was challenged, with discrepancies between his statements and official data.
• 💼 Large companies implicated in the scam were allegedly involved in tax evasion and other illegal activities, with the government turning a blind eye in exchange for political donations.
• 🛠️ Companies that donated through Electoral Bonds were sometimes awarded public contracts and projects, suggesting a quid-pro-quo arrangement.
• 🔑 The script alleges that the government had access to information about every donating company, potentially using this as leverage against opposition parties.
• 🗳️ The Supreme Court's decision to declare the scheme unconstitutional was in response to a petition filed by political parties and NGOs advocating for transparency in political funding.
• 📊 The data released post the Supreme Court's ruling showed a significant portion of Electoral Bonds were encashed by the BJP, with other parties receiving much smaller shares.
• 🚫 Some political parties, such as CPI, CPI-M, All-India Forward Bloc, and CPI-ML, refused to accept Electoral Bonds on principle, highlighting a divide in the approach to political funding.

Q & A

What is the Electoral Bond Scam mentioned in the script?

The Electoral Bond Scam refers to a series of alleged fraudulent activities involving the misuse of the Electoral Bonds Scheme introduced by the Modi government in 2017. The scheme allowed anonymous political donations, which critics argue facilitated corruption and kickbacks in exchange for political favors and business opportunities.

How were the citizens of India allegedly robbed of their money according to the script?

The script suggests that the citizens were robbed of their money through a series of scams, primarily the Electoral Bond Scam, where political parties allegedly received kickbacks in exchange for business opportunities, leading to a misuse of public funds and a lack of transparency in political funding.

What is the significance of the coupon code HOLI50 mentioned in the script?

The coupon code HOLI50 is a promotional offer for two courses on Dhruv Rathee Academy, providing a 50% discount on the ChatGPT course and Time Management Course. The offer is valid until 31st March and is part of the Holi celebration promotion.

What does the script claim about the Supreme Court's stance on the Electoral Bonds Scheme?

The script states that the Supreme Court declared the Electoral Bonds Scheme unconstitutional after seven years, recognizing that it violated citizens' right to information and was used for obtaining kickbacks, thus going against the principles of democracy.

How much money did the BJP receive through Electoral Bonds according to the script?

According to the script, the BJP received ₹60 billion through Electoral Bonds between April 2019 and January 2024, which is about 47.5% of the total bonds encashed during that period.

What was the discrepancy in the total bonds sold as mentioned by Home Minister Amit Shah and the actual figures?

Home Minister Amit Shah claimed that the total bonds sold were worth ₹200 billion, with BJP receiving only ₹60 billion. However, the script points out that according to ECI data, the actual total value of bonds issued and encashed was ₹127 billion, not ₹200 billion.

What is the role of the Unique Alphanumeric Number on the Electoral Bonds as discussed in the script?

The Unique Alphanumeric Number on each Electoral Bond is a secret identifier visible only under ultraviolet light. It was initially claimed by the government that this number was only a security feature and would not reveal the identity of the buyer. However, the script suggests that this number could potentially be used to track donations, contradicting the government's claims of anonymity.

What is the script's view on the role of ED and CBI in relation to the Electoral Bonds Scheme?

The script suggests that agencies like ED (Enforcement Directorate) and CBI (Central Bureau of Investigation) have become tools of the government, potentially being used to harass companies that do not provide kickbacks through electoral bonds or to give a free pass to those that do.

What examples of fraud are given in the script related to the Electoral Bonds Scheme?

The script provides examples such as tax evasion by companies, awarding of contracts to companies with a history of safety violations or financial irregularities, and the excessive payment to certain companies for public projects, all allegedly linked to their contributions through electoral bonds.

What is the significance of the companies Megha Engineering and Vedanta in the context of the script?

Megha Engineering and Vedanta are highlighted in the script as companies that have allegedly made significant political donations through electoral bonds and subsequently received lucrative government contracts, suggesting a quid pro quo arrangement.

How does the script describe the impact of the Electoral Bonds Scheme on democracy and public funds?

The script argues that the Electoral Bonds Scheme has negatively impacted democracy by allowing for opaque political funding and potential corruption. It also suggests that public funds have been misused, with companies receiving government contracts in possible exchange for political donations, thereby diverting resources away from public welfare.