Himalaya Harbinger, Rudrapur Bureau.
Nobel laureate and distinguished economist Amartya Sen has lauded the recent decision by the Supreme Court to annul the electoral bonds scheme, denouncing it as a scandal. Speaking from Massachusetts, USA, Sen welcomed the move, asserting that it would foster greater transparency in the electoral landscape.
Sen expressed his satisfaction with the decision, stating, “Electoral bonds were a scandal, and I am glad that they have now been dropped. I hope there will be more transparency in the support that people give to each other in the electoral context.”
The Supreme Court, in a landmark judgment earlier this month, cited violations of constitutional rights, including freedom of speech and expression, as well as the right to information, leading to the annulment of the controversial electoral bonds scheme. The apex court directed the State Bank of India (SBI) to disclose details of each electoral bond encashed by political parties to the Election Commission. These details, encompassing the date of encashment and the denomination of the bonds, are required to be submitted to the poll panel by March 6.
Sen, highlighting the impact of party politics on India’s electoral system, remarked, “The electoral system in India is much affected by the nature of party politics, which makes it very hard for common people to get the hearing that they should get in the polls.”
Former finance minister and senior Congress leader, P Chidambaram, echoed Sen’s sentiments, terming the Supreme Court’s decision as a “great victory for transparency.”
