Congress Criticizes SBI’s Request for Time Extension on Electoral Bonds

The Congress party has strongly criticized the State Bank of India (SBI) for seeking additional time from the Supreme Court to disclose details regarding electoral bonds, alleging flawed arguments and accusing Prime Minister Narendra Modi of hiding corporate donors. Congress leader Jairam Ramesh asserted that the SBI’s request for an extension, conveniently timed after the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, raises suspicions about transparency.

Ramesh highlighted the discrepancy between the SBI’s claim of data decoupling for anonymity and the detailed KYC procedures for bond buyers, questioning the need for such a lengthy process. He pointed to the Finance Ministry’s previous acknowledgment of purchaser records being readily retrievable, raising doubts about the sincerity of the SBI’s stance.

Ramesh emphasized that the delay in revealing donor information fuels concerns about government accountability and transparency in electoral funding.