New Delhi/IBNS: Heavily countering the Opposition's charge on the now-scrapped electoral bonds system, Union Home Minister Amit Shah Friday asked if those parties would also describe donations they received through bonds as "extortion" money

Shah made the remarks in an exclusive interview with NDTV,  seen as a sharp response to Congress leader Rahul Gandhi calling the electoral bonds system the "world's biggest extortion scheme" and labelling Prime Minister Narendra Modi as a "champion of corruption".

"Their parties have also received donations through bonds. Is that extortion as well? Rahul Gandhi must tell the people, yes, we have also extorted. And the donation they have received in proportion to the number of MPs is more than what we got," Shah said.

"They don't have an issue, there is no allegation of corruption against us. So they are trying to create confusion. They won't be successful."

In a landmark verdict on Feb 15, the Supreme Court scrapped the electoral bonds scheme stating that it violates the citizens' right to information.

Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud said the scheme was unconstitutional and arbitrary and may lead to a quid pro quo arrangement between political parties and donors.

The Constitution bench comprising five judges held that the stated objective of fighting black money and maintaining the confidentiality of donors cannot defend the scheme.

In data released by the State Bank of India and made public by the Election Commission of India, the BJP was found to have received maximum funds through these bonds, a whopping Rs. 6,986.5 crore since they were introduced in 2018.

The BJP was followed by Trinamool Congress at Rs. 1,397 crore and Congress at Rs. 1,334 crore.