Political donations should be legal but ‘faceless’: Parrikar

Panaji, Nov 8 (IANS) Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar on Wednesday said political donations should be "faceless" and should not be linked to the donor, because companies making large donations may face vendetta by rival political parties.

Parrrikar, who was addressing the media in Panaji as part of an 'anti-black money day' programme, also said that companies making donations to political parties were as vulnerable as witnesses to a crime.

"Therefore, I believe if you really want to get legal donation ... though it should (have) legal face, it should be faceless as far as the donor is concerned, to protect his identity. It is like giving witness for a crime, where you may face a backlash.

"So, same way money donated to a political party can also result in backlash," Parrikar told a press conference here.

When asked whether it was time that political donations should be linked to Aadhaar, Parrikar expressed reservations, claiming there was a "limitation to everything".

"There is other side to it. Small donations no one will bother ... whether you link it to Aadhaar or whether you take income tax certificate. If you link big amounts to the source, there is every likelihood that the next government, if it changes hands, may target the company and the very noble idea of official donation will be driven under..." Parrikar said.

The former Defence Minister also said that the union government was working on a scheme, which would enable companies to purchase official bonds and submit to political parties without disclosure of identity.