CEC raps India Inc, says pol donations root cause of blackmoney

MUMBAI: Amid the heated public debate on ways to tackle black money, Chief Election Commissioner S Y Qureshi today slammed India Inc saying corporate donations to political parties are one of the root causes of illegal money and corruption.

"It is an irony that one of the root causes of blackmoney is corporate donations to political parties, especially during the elections," Qureshi said in a meet on CSR organised by Bombay Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

Coming down heavily on companies regarding corporate social responsibility, he said, "You are generous only when it comes to political donations, because there is a lot to be gained from that."

Mincing no words, he said corporate India, whose headquarters is in Mumbai, have no right to complain about the governance deficit or political corruption "when you don't even bother to get out of your homes on a polling day."

"It's nothing but a big irony that Bombay polled just 41 per cent in the last elections. And you still blame your government. How can you expect clean governance if you don't participate in the electoral process?," he asked and stated that "urban voter apathy is a big problem facing the country today and Bombay is the biggest culprit in this."

"If you want an honest government, then you first have to do some sincere introspection on what you do in getting this," Qureshi said.

Earlier in January this year, a group of prominent personalities, including industrialists, had expressed concern over a series of scam leading to "governance deficit".