CPI ready for debate on party's funding, but casts doubts on BJP

As Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) national president Amit Shah said Prime Minister Narendra Modi favoured a discussion and change in fund raising process of political parties, the Communist Party of India (CPI) on Sunday said "let there be a debate", while wondering whether the ruling party, which was not propelled even to discuss the issue of demonetisation in Parliament, will show the political will to take up these issues.

"Let there be a debate on political funding and let there be a debate on the party's collection of donations. We want a debate even on the state funding of elections. There is a report given by the Indrajit Gupta Committee. The committee was constituted when the BJP was in power and Mr. Vajpayee was the Prime Minister. The committee has given a report and the committee has recommended the state funding of elections; let there a debate on electoral reforms also. When we talk about corruption, black money and money power in elections, let us debate comprehensively," CPI national secretary D. Raja told ANI.

"It is not only political funding of parties; it should also include the state funding of elections and electoral reforms. Let there be a comprehensive debate, we welcome it, but whether the BJP will show its political will to take up these issues for a debate inside parliament, because the BJP was not propelled even to discuss the issue of demonetisation inside parliament. Now, they are ready to discuss funding of political parties, let there be a comprehensive debate," Raja added.

Addressing a BJP Partivartan rally in Shahjahanpur of Uttar Pradesh yesterday, Shah said during the all-party meeting at the beginning of winter session, the Prime Minister favoured a discussion and a change in fund raising process of political parties, and said all elections from panchayat to parliament should be held on the same day, but the opposition did not allow a discussion in the entire winter session.