Government to probe foreign funding for Arvind Kejriwal’s Aam Aadmi Party

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New Delhi, Nov 11, 2013:  The Centre has ordered a probe into the source of foreign funding received by Arvind Kejriwal’s Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), which will make its political debut in the December 4 Delhi state election.

Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde today said, "Whatever the source of funding is, which country it is coming from, to probe this we have given it to the ministry. We had got complaints about foreign funding and we are investigating. It takes some time."

Mr Kejriwal shot back, "The Congress is scared of AAP. Let them probe us. Finish a probe in 48 hours. But let them also probe how Congress got funds worth Rs. 2000 crore. Let them also investigate the BJP’s funding."

The AAP alleges that it is being targeted as opinion polls had predicted better prospects for the first-timers than earlier believed.
 
According to reports, Mr Kejriwal’s fledgling outfit claims to have collected around Rs. 19 crore as donations from 63,000 people, ranging  from rickshaw pullers, to traders, industrialists and overseas Indians.

Last month, the Delhi High Court had asked the Centre to look into the accounts of AAP and investigate their source of funding. The government had been asked to file a status report by December 10.

The court’s order came on a petition by ML Sharma asking for a probe into the finances of Mr Kejriwal’s party. The AAP has so far fended off criticism by saying that their donations are detailed on their website and every rupee is accounted for.

On Sunday, Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit had lashed out at Mr Kejriwal for repeatedly targeting her, with a counter-question on his funding.

"Where do you (AAP) get all the money from? You can call me a liar or I can call you a thief. But is there any proof to say that I am a liar? But there is proof to say that you are a thief," the 75-year-old Chief Minister was quoted telling PTI in an interview.

 

Courtesy: NDTV