New Delhi, Feb 24, 2017

Dr. Munish Raizada, convener of Chanda band Satyagraha (No List: No Donation) against Aam Aadmi Party’s falling back on its founding principle of financial transparency has welcomed BJP’s National President Amit Shah’s announcement about BJP’s funding that BJP will go totally cashless in its political funding by the end of this June.

In an interview with Times Now, Mr. Shah Spoke fervently about how the illicit method in political funding is the root cause of Corruption. While discussing the issue that whether the political parties should be included under the RTI, he affirmatively comments that political parties should come under the RTI.

Dr. Raizada appreciates both the statement of Mr. Shah and also says that stringent regulation of political funding is urgently needed to control corruption and curb black money circulation.

If BJP does in future as per the announcement goes cashless in political funding, it will set a moral example for others to follow suite.

Raizada further adds, ‘unregulated, undisclosed and opaque political funding is the root cause of corruption and it is high time to contemplate and put substantial reforms in this system.’

Raizada, who is currently engaged in an internal battle with Aam Aadmi Party, has been leading a Chanda Bandh Satyagraha (No List: No Donation campaign) against the party since December 2016 which is aimed at seeking a pledge from the public not to donate to AAP if it does not display its donor’s list.

AAP came into politics with a promise of 100 % transparency in political funding, but since June 2016, has scrapped the list of donors from its website and has also not uploaded its income and expenses statement post 2014 on it website.

Chanda Bandh Satygraha reiterates the fact that transparency in political funding is very much possible in India, only a political intent is needed and the ruling party BJP at Centre should take a lead through legislation of electoral reforms.