Congress leader Rahul Gandhi took a dig at Prime Minister Narendra Modi and charged the prime minister is using probe agencies for ‘donation business’. Gandhi’s jibe comes following Congress charge that several businesses donated to BJP’s party funds whilst facing probe from central agencies.
Rahul Gandhi tweeted, “Do you know about the Prime Minister's 'Donate, Take Bell and Business' scheme? In the country, the Prime Minister is doing 'donation business' by misusing ED, IT and CBI like 'Vasuli Bhai'.”
Gandhi charged that central agencies have become “recovery agents” and according to reports, 30 companies facing investigation from central agencies donated money to the BJP. “The donation business is going on so shamelessly that the owners of a distillery in MP donated to BJP as soon as they got the bail. Friend's company benefits from dishonesty and different rules for others? 'Illegal donations' and 'Electoral Bonds' given to BJP under Modi rule are the guarantee of 'Ease of Doing Business',” Gandhi charged.
Congress general secretary in-charge communications Jairam Ramesh on Friday alleged that at least 30 companies, which donated a total of nearly Rs 335 crore to the BJP between financial years 2018-19 and 2022-23, faced action by central agencies during that period. Ramesh said Congress general secretary in-charge organisation K.C. Venugopal on Friday wrote to Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman over the issue.
Ramesh also asked if the government would come up with a "white paper" on the BJP's finances, not just the sources, but how corporate firms were "coerced" to donate, by misusing investigative agencies against them. "If you are unwilling to come up with a factual explanation, then are you willing to present yourself for a Supreme Court-monitored investigation in these dubious deals to loot donation for the BJP?" Ramesh said.
-with PTI inputs.
