Congress leaders Abhishek Manu Singhvi along with Jairam Ramesh addressing at a Press conference at the AICC HQ in New Delhi on Sunday. September 29, 2024 | Photo Credit: Shiv Kumar Pushpakar

Congress demands Nirmala Sitharaman’s resignation after case against her in Karnataka 

The special court was hearing a complaint relating to the now-scrapped electoral bonds scheme 

by · The Hindu

The Congress on Sunday demanded the resignation of Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman after a case was lodged against her and others on directions of a special court in Karnataka, which was hearing a complaint relating to the now-scrapped electoral bonds scheme.

Addressing a press conference, senior Congress leader Abhishek Manu Singhvi and general secretary (communications) Jairam Ramesh reiterated the party’s demand for a Supreme Court-monitored inquiry through a Special Investigation Team (SIT) into the whole electoral bond scheme. 

Also read: Karnataka Minister Priyank Kharge seeks resignation of Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, other BJP leaders

Mr. Singhvi and Mr. Ramesh alleged that four ways were used to extort money through “pre-paid bribery,” “post-paid bribery,” , “post raid bribery” and through “shell companies.”  Mr. Ramesh said the Finance Minister should immediately resign as she was “guilty” politically, legally and morally. 

Without mentioning any names, Mr. Singhvi observed that it was obvious that the Finance Minister could not do it on her own as the script and direction came from only one place and “we know who has done it on whose instructions it has been done”.

“The larger issue is the level playing field, which is necessary for free and fair polls, which in turn is critical for democracy. This is an attack on our democratic system,” he said. 

A case was registered on Saturday against Ms. Sitharaman and others on the directions of a special court in Bengaluru, following a complaint filed by Adarsh R. Iyer, co-president of Janadhikaara Sangharsha Parishath, alleging that the accused “committed extortion under the guise and garb of electoral bonds” and benefited to the tune of more than ₹8,000 crore. BJP Karnataka chief B.Y. Vijayendra and party leader Nalin Kumar Kateel have also been named in the FIR. The FIR has been filed against Enforcement Directorate officers too. 

Published - September 29, 2024 04:49 pm IST