New Delhi:
A journalist who questioned the veracity of electoral bond data shared by the State Bank of India (SBI) has admitted she was wrong. Poonam Agarwal had claimed in a series of tweets that she had purchased electoral bonds only in 2018, but published data showed that she had purchased bonds in 2020. But yesterday, reporters suggested she may have forgotten about the bonds she bought in 2020 because that was the year of the coronavirus pandemic.
“I saw a video I recorded at The Quint showing electoral bonds on October 20, 2020. I don’t remember buying bonds in 2020, only in 2018. A unique number would Clears many doubts. Until then, let’s not question SBI’s data,” Poonam Agarwal said in a post on X (formerly known as Twitter).
“This can be blamed on my poor memory. 2020 was the year of COVID-19 and a lot happened. Maybe that’s why I don’t remember. I apologize for my poor memory,” she added.
One could blame it on my poor memory. 2020 is the year of the COVID-19 outbreak, and a lot has happened. Maybe that’s why I don’t remember. I apologize for my poor memory. 🙏
— Poonam Agarwal (@poonamjourno) March 18, 2024
The electoral bonds scheme launched by the BJP government in 2018 allows individuals and corporates to donate anonymously to political parties. The Supreme Court had dismissed the plea in January and directed SBI to share all details of donations over the past five years.
When the SBI shared the first set of data, concerns were raised because it did not include electoral bond figures, which help link donations to political parties.
Regarding this data, independent journalist Poonam Aggarwal later claimed that the dates of the bonds purchased in her name were wrong. Poonam said the data was incorrect as she had purchased two bonds worth Rs 1,000 each in April 2018, while data on the Election Commission website showed she had purchased the same bonds in October 2020.
I bought 2 #electoralbonds In April 2018, the price of each bond was Rs 1,000. But the data shows that my name is the purchaser dated October 20, 2020. Is this a mistake, an inaccuracy or my namesake purchased the bond. This would be a great coincidence.
Unique hidden number. d data can dispel doubts. pic.twitter.com/tgwke2MEIj— Poonam Agarwal (@poonamjourno) March 17, 2024
But after a video of her showing the 2020 bonds went viral, she issued a clarification saying that the SBI data should not be questioned.
According to data released by the Election Commission of India, the BJP has received the highest funding (Rs 6,986.5 crore) through these bonds since the scheme was implemented in 2018. The Trinamool Congress party is in second place (Rs 1,397 crore) and third (Rs 1,334 crore).
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