Congress slams BJP on RGF matter, asks "Will they declare name of it's donors?"

The Congress party has hit back at the BJP after the latter made allegations against the Rajiv Gandhi Foundation. Congress spokesperson Randeep Singh Surjewala asked the ruling party to make public the list of all its donors including international, companies, entities, organisations including those of Chinese, if any. The statement comes in the wake of BJP President JP Nadda allegations on Congress party over the alleged links between Rajiv Gandhi Foundation and China, amid the escalating tensions at Ladakh border.

New Delhi:Congress, on Saturday, hit back at BJP's allegations over Rajiv Gandhi Foundation by asking 10 questions to the ruling party including the name of its donors who allegedly give money through electoral bonds.

"Will the BJP, like Rajiv Gandhi Foundation has done, ask the Vivekananda Foundation and the India Foundation to make public the list of all its donors including international, companies, entities, organisations including those of Chinese if any? Will BJP declare the name of donors from whom it has received thousands of crores in donations through electoral bonds?" asked Congress Chief Spokesperson, Randeep Singh Surjewala, in his statement.

He further added, "Will BJP disclose the source of funding, amounts received, name of donors for 'Overseas friends of BJP'? What is the connection of Shri Rajkumar Naraindas Sabnani alias Raju Sabnani to of-BJP? How much amount has been received by BJP-RSS over last six years by international funding and donors?"

The statement comes in the wake of BJP President JP Nadda allegations on Congress party over the alleged links between Rajiv Gandhi Foundation and China, amid the escalating tensions at Ladakh border.

Hitting back at the BJP President, Surjewala said, "Shri JP Nadda has made his favourite pastime to mislead the country by making sensational claims. We had said yesterday and we reiterate that RGF had received a modest amount of Rs 20 lakh only from PMNRF in FY 2005-06, which was duly utilised for undertaking relief activities in Andaman and Nicobar Islands. No other amount was received from there."

He also clarified that no amount has been received as donation from Mehul Choksi personally and nor has any loan ever been given by RGF to him. "The records of RGF reflect receipt of a modest donation of Rs 10 lakh from Navraj Estates Private Limited, in year 2013, of which Shri Choksi was one of the directors. The entire world knows the connection of Mehul Choksi to Modi Government and his consequent escape after duping the banks of thousands of crores of public money," he replied.

He questioned the Government over the connection of BJP to the Communist Party of China while mentioning about the visits of BJP Delegation to China in 2007, 2008, 2011 and in 2014.

"Why did Shri Narendra Modi visit China on four separate occasions as chief minister of Gujarat and on five separate occasions as Prime Minister of India, besides hosting the Chinese premier on three occasions in India? Isn't he the only PM to have had 18 meetings with Chinese premier in six years as a Prime Minister? Has his 'Jhumla Diplomacy' worked?" asked Surjewala.

He alleged that BJP and Modi Government is burying their "abject failures" in defending India's territorial integrity in the din of "concocted and wretched allegations", repeated in similar fashion for 3 days continuously.

"We urge BJP President and Modi Government to rise from their fears, defend the nation and support our armed forces. This is the only true Patriotism," the Congress leader added.