BJP alleges Rajiv Gandhi Foundation got funds from Chinese embassy

Amid borders tensions with China, Union Law Minister and senior BJP leader Ravi Shankar Prasad on Thursday (June 25) accused the Rajiv Gandhi Foundation of receiving donations from the Chinese embassy in India during 2005-06.

The accusation came over a week after 20 Indian Army soldiers were killed in a clash with Chinese troops in Galwan Valley, escalating tensions between the two nations, apart from triggering a wave of anti-China sentiments in the country.

Referring to the annual report of 2005-06, Prasad said the Rajiv Gandhi Foundation Prasad had received a donation from the Embassy of People’s Republic of China, and the donation was included in the general donors’ list.

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

“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?” the Union minister asked in a tweet.

“Did the then UPA government take a bribe from the Chinese? Is it not true that after taking this donation, the foundation recommended a free trade agreement with China, which was heavily tilted in favour of the Chinese,” reports further quoted him as asking.

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Congress president Sonia Gandhi is the chairperson of the foundation while leaders like Dr Manmohan Singh, Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi, and P Chidambaram are board members of the foundation.

Besides, Prasad also alleged that the then UPA dispensation had not mentioned about this donation in the government records. The lawmaker said the Congress must answer how the money from the Chinese embassy was put to use.

Rajiv Gandhi Foundation’s report 2009-11 mentions the proposed FTA between India and China will be feasible, desirable and mutually beneficial and should be comprehensive with free flow of good services, investment and capital. pic.twitter.com/HG2iqUNuE6

— Ravi Shankar Prasad (@rsprasad) June 25, 2020

“Rajiv Gandhi Foundation’s report 2009-11 mentions the proposed FTA between India and China will be feasible, desirable and mutually beneficial and should be comprehensive with free flow of good services, investment and capital,” he added in another tweet.

According to NDTV, the saffron party had targeted the Gandhi family last week as well for allegedly meeting and having a “secret pact” with Chinese officials. However, the Congress had refuted such allegations and called it a diversionary tactic, said a report.

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