Rahul Gandhi asks PM Modi to ensure 'PM-CARES Fund's audit' due to PSU contributions

Affirming his demand, former Congress chief Rahul Gandhi, on Saturday, demanded that PM-CARES Fund be audited and that PM Modi must ensure same. He pointed out that fund had received huge contributions from PSUs & major public utilities like Railways. Gandhi had stated same in his press briefing suggesting steps to help ecomy amid COVID-19 crisis.

Coronavirus Live Updates: India's cases rise to 59,662; 17,846 recoveries, 1,981 deaths

Rahul Gandhi demands auditing of PM-CARES

Congress questions PM CARES fund; hits out as PM Modi extends Covid lockdown till May 3

PM Cares contribution

Centre's Prime Minister’s Citizen Assistance and Relief in Emergency Situations Fund (PM CARES Fund) has received from several government departments - UPSC officers, Women andChild Development staff, Civil Services Officers, Ministry of Home Affairs staff, Central Police organisations, Lok Sabha staff, Ministry of External Affairs staff, Supreme Court staff, EPFO and several PSUs like IRTS, ONGC, Power Finance Corporation, Steel PSUs, Railways. With Centre allowing companies to declare its contribution to PM-CARES under CSR, fund has received major contributions from businesses like -Aditya Birla Group, Indiabulls group, Lakshmi Mittal, Bharti Enterprises, Reliance Industries,  Jindal Steel and Power, Tata Trusts, L&T, Adani Enterprises, Paytm, Motilal Oswal. PM-CARES Fund had reached a milestone achievement by raising Rs 6500 crores, in a week, as per reports.

'Foreign-based individuals, organizations can donate to PM CARES': Govt sources

Auditing of PM-CARES

Reports state that Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) will t be auditing fund as it is a  'charitable organisation'. fund will reportedly be audited by 'independent auditors who will be appointed by trustees'. Congress has time and again demanded that fund be audited strictly as it has received ermous contributions.

SC dismisses Mahua Moitra's petition challenging exclusion of CM relief funds from CSR

What is PM-Cares fund?

On 28 March, Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched Prime Minister’s Citizen Assistance and Relief in Emergency Situations Fund (PM CARES Fund), where citizens can contribute to aide government's efforts in supporting those affected by disasters. This fund will provide relief to affected from any walk of life dealing with any kind of emergency or distress situation. fund is chaired by PM Modi and includes Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Home Minister Amit Shah, and Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman. fund accepts donations from foreign individiuals and organisations.