New Delhi: The BJP and Congress Thursday again traded barbs over the India-China border stand-off in Ladakh, with the ruling party accusing the latter of taking funds from China for the Rajiv Gandhi Foundation (RGF).
The Congress, however, responded asking the BJP to “stop living in 2005 and start answering questions in 2020”.
The BJP alleged that donations to the RGF were made in 2005-06 when the Congress-led UPA-I was in power.
The RGF is a charitable organisation with Congress president Sonia Gandhi as its chairperson, while former prime minister Manmohan Singh, party leaders Rahul Gandhi, P. Chidambaram and Priyanka Gandhi serve as its board members.
BJP’s IT cell head Amit Malviya, in a series of tweets Thursday, alleged the RGF had taken funding not only from the Chinese embassy in Delhi, but also from the Chinese government.
Not just the Embassy of The Peoples Republic of China in India but even the Government of People’s Republic of China is a donor to the Rajiv Gandhi Foundation. Congress Presidnt Sonia Gandhi is the Chairperson of RGF. Dr MMS, Rahul Gandhi, PC and Priyanka Vadra sit on the board. pic.twitter.com/7jdLZZknC6
— Amit Malviya (@amitmalviya) June 25, 2020
Did donations to RGF deliver a debilitating blow to India's economy?
During UPA1, India’s trade deficit with China increased more than 17x, and under UPA2 by 88%.
Under the UPA, overall trade deficit with China increased 33x, i.e from $1.1 Bn in 2003-04 to $36.2 Bn in 2013-14.
— Amit Malviya (@amitmalviya) June 25, 2020
Donations showed results soon after. RGF did not just one but several studies on how a FTA between India and China is desirable and required. Studies argued that India needs the FTA much more than China and should pursue it as part of its efforts to improve bilateral relations! pic.twitter.com/NAc1gZlRdG
— Amit Malviya (@amitmalviya) June 25, 2020
Questions for the Congress…
These donations to RGF, if you can still call them that, have any connection with the MoU signed between the Congress and CPC in 2008?
What other things is the Congress party hiding from India on its relations with the CCP?
Full disclosure needed.
— Amit Malviya (@amitmalviya) June 25, 2020
BJP national president, in a virtual rally Thursday, also accused the Congress of taking “a hefty amount of three thousand hundred US dollars (sic) from China and the Chinese embassy” as donations for the foundation.
मैं हैरान हूं कि राजीव गांधी फाउंडेशन ने 2005-06 में पीपुल्स रिपब्लिक ऑफ चाइना और चीनी दूतावास से 3 लाख अमरीकी डालर प्राप्त किए। यह कांग्रेस और चीन का गुप्त संबंध है। pic.twitter.com/6jaHIU4fp6
— Jagat Prakash Nadda (@JPNadda) June 25, 2020
The BJP’s attacks come days after Rahul Gandhi said Prime Minister Narendra Modi has “surrendered” to China.
Also read: Sonia Gandhi writes to PM Modi seeking rollback of ‘insensitive’ fuel price hike
Congress ‘pattern’ of not condemning China
Besides Malviya and Nadda, law minister Ravi Shankar Prasad also attacked the Congress.
During a press conference, he said: “There is a pattern as to why the Congress party does not condemn China.”
“Ten years rule of the Manmohan Singh government is littered with various evidence as to how the Congress party tried to support China and make it earn tonnes of money by permitting the increase of trade deficit 33 times,” he added.
There is a pattern as to why Congress party does not condemn China because 10 years rule of Manmohan Singh govt is littered with various evidence as to how congress party tried to support China and make it earn tonnes of money by permitting the increase of trade deficit 33 times. pic.twitter.com/NZHAh263yA
— Ravi Shankar Prasad (@rsprasad) June 25, 2020
He further questioned the party asking why they took a donation from the Chinese embassy.
Among the donors list of Rajiv Gandhi Foundation annual report in 2005-06 clearly shows that it has received a donation from the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China.
We want to know why this donation was taken ? pic.twitter.com/Xe3ynHnjAx
— Ravi Shankar Prasad (@rsprasad) June 25, 2020
The BJP has been targeting the Congress over the past several days after the opposition party started questioning the ruling dispensation over its handling of the India-China border stand-off.
On Tuesday, Nadda had questioned the Congress on a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) the Congress had signed with the Communist Party of China in 2008.
“First, Congress signs MoU with the Chinese Communist Party. Then, Congress surrenders land to China. During the Doklam issue, Rahul Gandhi secretly goes to the Chinese embassy. During crucial situations, Rahul Gandhi tries to divide the nation and demoralise armed forces. Effects of MoU?” Nadda wrote in a tweet on 23 June.
A PIL was also filed in the Supreme Court Wednesday, seeking directions to the NIA or CBI to investigate the 2008 agreement.
The plea was filed by advocate Shashank Shekhar Jha and Editor-in-Chief of Goa Chronicle, Savio Rodrigues. The petitioners argued that the Congress had signed an agreement with China, despite having a hostile relationship with the country at the time, and had hidden facts and details of the agreement from the country.
Modi govt’s ‘diversionary tactics’
The Congress, meanwhile, reacted sharply to the BJP’s allegations with chief party spokesperson Randeep Surjewala issuing a statement, saying: “Please stop living in 2005 and start answering questions in 2020.”
He also accused the Modi government of playing “diversionary tactics”.
“The only prime minister of India, who goes to China 5 times, is Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The only prime minister to call Chinese prime minister to India 3 times is the present Prime Minister Modi. The only prime minister, who meets Chinese prime minister and has meetings with him 18 times in total, is Prime Minister Modi. The only party, which received a delegation and held detailed consultations with the Chinese on 17 October 2008, then led by the current defence minister and then BJP president Rajnath Singh, is the BJP,” Surjewala said.
He also questioned the relationship between the RSS and the Chinese Communist Party.
“Is it also not correct that in January, 2009 the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh had consultations with the Chinese Communist Party… Is it also not correct that on 19 January, 2011 the then BJP President Shri Nitin Gadkari took a delegation of BJP to China and held detailed consultations, were they anti-Indian consultation? Is it not correct that in 2014 the BJP sent a 13-member MP-MLAs delegation for political study of the Chinese system and the Chinese political party, were those anti-India activities,” he asked.
Also read: ‘Surender Modi’ tweet intensifies BJP backlash against Rahul Gandhi, Congress & all critics
The points raised by the BJP national president are only claims and not factual. If they were facts and were backed by supportive evidence then INC would have been ripped apart and burnt to ashes. I believe that there is no solid ground to it and our beloved leader has once again succeeded in divesting the issue of national interest. Thanks to paid media for playing their role beyond perfection.
This shows that all funds including PM Cares, Party Funds etc should be fully transparent and open to the public access
It is now clear that every Fund including PM Cares, Party Funds etc. should be totally transparent and under RTI with no exception.
Yes it’s time for celebration. ThePrint in turn need to applaud BJP for bringing out this crime, rather than supporting congress or showing sympathy to congress. This heading of thePrint “Modi govt’s ‘diversionary tactics’” in this new article brings me a doubt whether “ThePrint” is really happy for this incident or not? Time to think readers
If a crime has been committed, it must be punished. Timeframe doesnt matter.
I wish, this two national party stop being Pretentious and openly sell off our mother India. Very sad… All discussion is for political gain. They don’t love our people.
Congress is a pro-Pakistan, pro-China party that surrenders India’s interests at the drop of a hat. No wonder, Indians sent it packing to the cleaners. Why would a party organization accept donations from an enemy nation? Why meet the Chinese ambassador secretly when the govt is handling the Doklam conflict? Only one word comes to mind – traitors.
WAS ANAND SHARMA SEEN IN THE PICTURE WHILE THE SIGNING OF MOU A MINISTER IN THE THEN GOVERNMENT?
IF YES THEN IS IT NOT GOVERNMENT PROMOTED ?
Every passing day exposes corruption by the Congress. India is heading for Congress Mukta Bharat. Time for celebration!