Published 13:02 IST, June 27th 2020

Congress admits diversion of PM Relief Fund to RGF; accuses BJP of speaking 'half-truths'

Alleging BJP of speaking half-truths, Congress leader P Chidambaram has admitted that funds from PM National Relief Fund were diverted to Congress-backed RGF

Reported by: Navashree Nandini
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Even as senior Congress leer P Chidambaram slammed BJP chief JP Nda for alleging a 'Rajiv Gandhi Foundation scam', he has mitted that funds from PM National Relief Fund were diverted to Congress-backed RGF. Taking to Twitter, Chidambaram has said that Rs 20 lakhs received by RGF from  PM National Relief Fund in 2005 was utilised in tsunami relief work in Andaman & Nicobar.

He accused BJP chief of revealing half-truths. He n goes on to ask connection between 'RGF 15 years ago' and 'China’s intrusion into Indian territory in 2020 under watch of Modi government'. former Finance Minister who is out on bail in INX Media case also sayd that if RGF returns Rs 20 lakh, will PM Modi assure country that China will vacate its transgression and restore status quo ante?

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Congress faces serious accusations

political blame game between BJP and Congress commenced after 20 Indian Army personnel were martyred in a violent clash with Chinese troops at LAC on June 15. While latter questioned Centre's handling of crisis, BJP accused Congress leership of having close ties with China. 

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BJP raised that Congress-backed RGF h received a donation of Rs.90 lakh from Chinese Embassy in India in 2006-07. While Congress president Sonia Gandhi is chairperson of trust, senior party leers such as Rahul Gandhi, Dr.Manmohan Singh, P Chidambaram and Priyanka Gandhi Vra serve as trustees.

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BJP president JP Nda shared documents to show that Prime Minister's National Relief Fund money h been donated to RGF. Terming this as a "brazen fraud", Nda contended that one family's hunger for wealth h cost India immensely. While Congress party has mitted that an MoU was signed with CPC, it is yet to respond on allegations pertaining to controversial donations to RGF. 

MoU signed between former Congress president Rahul Gandhi and Wang Jiarui, Minister of International Department of Central Committee of CPC on August 7, 2008, has also come in for criticism. agreement reportedly pertained to exchanging high-level information and cooperation between Congress and CPC besides providing two parties with "opportunity to consult each or on important bilateral, regional and international developments”.

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Anand Sharma hits outs at BJP

After days of silence on 2008 MoU with China's ruling Communist Party, senior Congress leer Anand Sharma on Thursday mitted that Rahul Gandhi as n-Congress General Secretary signed youth delegations exchange with a senior Chinese Minister and hit out at BJP's "malicious disinformation campaign" against grand old party.

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Taking to Twitter, Rajya Sabha MP claimed that all information regarding 2008 MoU is in public domain and said party to party delegations exchange is rmal between political parties. "Congress has leership delegations exchange with a large number of major political parties across world. What is wrong?" said Anand Sharma.

He furr said that Congress led India's freedom movement and is one of oldest political parties in world and asserted that questioning party's patriotism (by BJP) is "outrous".

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13:02 IST, June 27th 2020