New Delhi: Former Congress President Rahul Gandhi has once again attacked Centre over PM Cares, sharing a screenshot of a news headline Rahul Gandhi wrote, “PM Cares- ‘Chaliye, transparency ko vanakkam’!”
He said PM Cares- Welcome transparency.
This comes after PM Cares Fund has been defined by the government as a government trust for the purpose of corporate donations, but a clause in the trust documents calls it a private entity, which leaves it exempt from RTI scrutiny. This has raised questions over the Fund’s entity- whether it is a private or a public one.
PM Cares- ‘Chaliye, transparency ko vanakkam’! pic.twitter.com/EgGR7LiYH9
— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) December 17, 2020
Congress attacked the government over the PM CARES Fund
The Congress attacked the government over the PM CARES Fund on Wednesday and demanded an account of the foreign donations received by it. Chief spokesperson of the opposition party Randeep Surjewala demanded probity, saying the fund be made accountable and the details of the money received by it be made public.
“The intriguing case of ‘foreign donations’, including from China, Pakistan and Qatar to #PMCaresFund!
“Questions to PM – Why did Indian Embassies publicise and receive donation to PM Cares Fund? Why was the Fund advertised on banned Chinese apps?” he asked in a series of tweets.
Surjewala also sought to know how much money was received by the fund from Pakistan and Qatar and who donated that money. “How many thousand CR were received in Fund from 27 foreign countries?” he asked.
“Why were the 27 Indian Embassies advertising the Fund through ‘Closed Channels, not in Public Domain’, when Fund is not a ‘Public Authority’ within RTI?” he asked.
The Congress leader also sought to know why the fund has been exempted from a preview of the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act (FCRA) by the government.
“Isn’t it the only exception in India for a charitable trust? Why this Special treatment? Why is the Fund then not a ‘Public Authority’? Why is Fund not audited by CAG or GOI and report made public as substantial foreign donations were received?” he asked.
Prime Minister’s Citizen Assistance and Relief in Emergency Situations Fund was set up by PM Modi in March to “deal with emergency or distress situations like the coronavirus pandemic”.
PM Cares trust was registered on March 27. On March 28, the Ministry of Corporate Affairs issued an office memorandum qualifying PM-CARES as a corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiative to receive corporate donations.
