Why Tax Transparency Matters
I write this as someone who believes in the quiet power of rules, records and institutions. Recent remarks by Priyank Kharge (priyank.kharge@inc.in) — accusing the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) of opaque funding practices and even suggesting a "money laundering racket" while asking why the body is not paying tax — have reopened a larger public conversation about transparency, equality before law, and civic trust NDTV Moneycontrol.
Context matters. Elected officials often raise institutional concerns; journalists report them; and courts and enforcement agencies evaluate evidence. In this instance, Priyank Kharge (priyank.kharge@inc.in) articulated three distinct questions that any democracy must be able to answer with clarity:
- Are legally mandated registration and reporting rules being observed?
- Where do large flows of donation money originate and how are they accounted for?
- Do exemptions or informal practices create unequal accountability under law?
I do not add to the heat of political rhetoric. My concern is institutional: when a public figure raises structural questions about money, registration and tax, the response should be procedural and transparent. That is good for the public, and it is good for the institutions being questioned.
Why this matters to me (and should matter to readers)
- Rule of law and even-handed application of the tax code are foundational to civic trust. If similar entities are treated differently under the law, suspicion grows even where proof does not yet exist.
- Transparency is not the same as partisan advantage. Clear disclosures reduce the space for rumor and politicized narratives.
- Modern democracies need robust, auditable trails for large donations, especially cross-border ones, so compliance can be assessed without invoking conjecture.
I have long written about how fiscal opacity corrodes trust and how better systems can restore it. In earlier pieces I argued for stronger public reporting, incentives for whistleblowers and digital platforms that publish disclosures in near real time — practical measures that make investigations easier and public confidence higher I-T Dept cracks down on donors of unrecognised political parties. These are not partisan prescriptions; they are technocratic ones aimed at making oversight work.
What a measured public response should include
- Independent review: If allegations about financial opacity are raised, a neutral regulator or court should be able to examine books and issue findings. This protects both accuser and accused.
- Clear standards: Lawmakers should ensure that entities collecting donations above certain thresholds register and report consistently, regardless of ideology or purpose.
- Publishable audits: When organisations claim informal categories (for instance, "collections" or "guru dakshina"), auditors should document source, intent and use. Public summaries of such audits reduce speculation.
- Avoid criminal language without evidence: Public figures can and should push for scrutiny; alleging crimes in public forums carries reputational harm if not backed by evidence. The right way to test serious claims is through proper investigative and judicial channels.
Practical suggestions I still believe in
- A central, searchable portal of large donations (local and cross-border) that authorities can flag for review.
- Whistleblower incentives tied to verifiable recoveries, with strong anonymity safeguards.
- Standardised registration for organisations that regularly mobilise public funds or run large programmes on public property.
Conclusion
When Priyank Kharge (priyank.kharge@inc.in) asks hard questions about registration, taxation and donation flows, the healthiest response in a democracy is not counter‑accusation but demonstrated transparency. Institutions win credibility by opening their books or by asking independent authorities to adjudicate. Citizens win when the process is fair, visible and rule-bound. That is how trust is repaired and sustained.
Regards,
Hemen Parekh
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