Why is government silent on foreign funding of political parties

NEW DELHI: Activist lawyer Prashant Bhushan on Monday drew a contrast in the Centre's action against social activist Teesta Setalvad and political parties on the issue of receiving foreign funds in alleged violation of law. Bhushan told the Supreme Court that the Centre had been very quick to take action against `Greenpeace' and Setalvad for getting foreign funds in alleged violation of law but for years it had failed to proceed against BJP and Congress which too were accused of receiving overseas funds in violation of FCRA.

He told a bench of Chief Justice H L Dattu and Justices Arun Mishra and Amitava Roy that the NDA government had been reluctant in taking action against the political parties despite the Delhi high court in March last year directing the authorities to initiate proceedings against them for getting foreign funds.

“The government was very quick in taking action against Greenpeace and Teesta in FCRA violation case but for the last 16 months it did not take any action against the political parties," Bhushan said. The court was hearing petitions filed by BJP and the Congress challenging the March 28, 2014 order of HC, which had held that they were liable to be proceeded against for receiving funds from Vedanta subsidiaries. The HC had asked the Centre and the Election Commission (EC) to act against them.

Challenging the order of the high court, both BJP and Congress told SC that Vedanta is owned by an Indian citizen and its subsidiaries are incorporated here, therefore they are not foreign sources.

BJP and Congress had appealed against the order in the SC. However, till date the government has not clarified its stand. The court asked the Centre to file its response within three weeks.