Sun Sep 29 22:27:08 UTC 2024: ## Congress Demands Resignation of Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman Over Electoral Bond Scheme Allegations
**New Delhi, September 29, 2024:** The Indian National Congress has called for the resignation of Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman following the filing of a case against her and other BJP leaders in connection with the now-scrapped electoral bonds scheme.
The case, registered in Bengaluru on Saturday, stems from a complaint alleging that Sitharaman and others “committed extortion under the guise and garb of electoral bonds” and benefited to the tune of over ₹8,000 crore.
Congress leaders Abhishek Manu Singhvi and Jairam Ramesh, at a press conference on Sunday, reiterated the party’s demand for a Supreme Court-monitored inquiry into the electoral bonds scheme, alleging it was used for “pre-paid bribery,” “post-paid bribery,” “post-raid bribery,” and through “shell companies.”
Ramesh asserted that the Finance Minister should step down immediately as she is “guilty” politically, legally, and morally. Singhvi, while not naming names, suggested that Sitharaman could not have acted alone, implying that the scheme was orchestrated by higher authorities within the BJP.
The Congress leaders highlighted the scheme’s potential to undermine a level playing field for free and fair elections, thereby threatening the democratic system. They also pointed out that the FIR names BJP leaders B.Y. Vijayendra and Nalin Kumar Kateel, along with Enforcement Directorate officers.
The Congress’s demand for Sitharaman’s resignation comes amidst growing scrutiny over the electoral bonds scheme, which critics allege facilitated opaque political funding and facilitated corruption.
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