NewDelhi: During the past decade, total income of main opposition Congress was over Rs 3,323 crore and 39 lakh out of which 83 per cent came from unknown sources, 18 per cent higher than the BJP, whose total income in the same period was amounting to Rs 2,125.91 crore, an analysis presented by Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) has revealed.
During the period of 11 years between FY 2004-05 and 2014, national parties garnered over Rs 9,278 crore, of which more than Rs 6612 crore was contributed by the unknown sources, the ADR report said analysing analysis their Income Tax returns and statements filed with the Election Commission. Incidentally, this was the period when the Congress was in power at the Centre while the BJP was in the role of the Opposition. The ADR covered six national parties -- Congress, BJP, BSP, NCP, CPI and CPM) -- and 51 regional parties in the analysis, including Trinamool Congress, which was declared a national party only in September last year.
At present, political parties are not required to reveal the name of individuals or organizations giving less than Rs 20,000. "As a result, over two-thirds of the funds cannot be traced and are from ‘unknown’ sources. This becomes very relevant in the light of recent events when demonetisation was announced so as to weed out black money from the society," the analysis said.
While the national political parties were brought under the ambit of the RTI Act by the CIC ruling in June 2013, they have still not complied with the decision, it said, adding that full transparency was not possible under the current laws, and it is only the RTI that can keep citizens informed. (UNI)