Unnao (Uttar Pradesh) [India], March 5 (ANI): Hitting back at Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, who claimed that the SBI request for more time to file details of donations received via electoral bonds with the Election Commission (EC) was an attempt to spare the Centre's blushes, Union Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal on Tuesday said the government does not want to keep 'anything under wraps'.
Frowning at the poll panel for seeking more time from the country's largest lender, the State Bank of India (SBI) to furnish the details of funds received through electoral bonds, Rahul said it was the 'last attempt' to hide Prime Minister Narendra Modi's 'real face' before the elections.
Dismissing the Congress leader's remark, the Union Minister claimed "nobody takes him seriously".
The SBI moved the Supreme Court seeking an extension of time till June 30 to submit details of electoral bonds to the EC.
Speaking to reporters at Unnao in Uttar Pradesh, the Union Minister said, "We do not want to keep anything under wraps. No one takes what he (Rahul) says seriously. The Supreme Court is doing its job in the matter and so is the government."
The SBI, in its application, said it needed more time to disclose details of electoral bonds encashed by political parties.
There are certain practical difficulties with the decoding exercise and the timeline fixed for it, the bank stated.
On March 15, the Constitution bench of the Supreme Court asked the SBI to furnish details of the political parties that have received electoral bonds since April 12, 2019, and all the particulars received and submit them to the Election Commission by March 6.
Meanwhile, responding to Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) patriarch and former Bihar chief minister, Lalu Prasad Yadav's 'no family' jibe at Prime Minister Modi, Meghwal said, "We are proud to be a part of Modi-ji's family. He has made it clear that the entire country is his family."
Lalu, while addressing the party's 'Jan Vishwas Maha Rally' in Patna on Sunday, said Prime Minister Modi only spreads hatred in the name of religion.
"These days, he is going around the country, talking about dynastic politics. You (PM Modi) don't have a family. You are not even a Hindu. When your mother died, why didn't you tonsure your head and shave your beard as a practising Hindu is required to do as per customs and tradition? Why did you not? You only spread hatred in society," Lalu said.
Responding to the jibe, Prime Minister Modi said the whole country is his family.
Addressing a massive gathering at Telangana's Adilabad, he said, "The leaders of the INDI-alliance, who are steeped in corruption, nepotism and appeasement, are getting more nervous and seem to be losing their bearings with every passing day. After I questioned their 'Parivarvad', they have now started saying that Modi has no family."
Coming together to hit back at Lalu over his 'no family' jibe at Prime Minister Modi, top BJP leaders, including Amit Shah, JP Nadda, Nitin Gadkari, and Jyotiraditya Scindia, among others added 'Modi ka Parivaar' to their social media profiles. (ANI)
