BJP Jibes At Congress Donation Drive With Amitabh Bachchan Film Clip, Links It To Dhiraj Sahu Case

A scene from the 1984 film 'Inquilaab' showed a discussion between two characters about utilising black money to purchase votes and passing it on as donations from well-wishers. 

The BJP on Sunday used an eighties movie clip to mock the Congress's donation campaign for the upcoming elections. The expression attempts to relate their need for crowdfunding to the seizure of hundreds of crores from one of their legislators. A scene from the 1984 film 'Inquilaab' showed a discussion between two characters about utilising black money to purchase votes and passing it on as donations from well-wishers. 

The scene, which included superstar Amitabh Bachchan and veteran actor-writer Kader Khan, showed bags full of cash, which the BJP alluded to the cash seizures from Congress MP Dhiraj Sahu.

Taking to X, the BJP stated: "The story and characters in this clip are not imaginary. Resemblance with Congress MP Dhiraj Sahu's party's call to seek crowdfunding is intended."

Sahu represents Jharkhand in the Rajya Sabha.

The Income Tax Department recently searched a corporation and organisations he owned in Odisha and Jharkhand, recovering more than 350 crore in cash. This was the largest single seizure ever made by an Indian investigative agency.

Sahu has stated that his family runs the firm and that the money found during the searches did not belong to him.

The BJP has targeted the Congress over the seizure, stating that the seized funds were intended for use in the impending Lok Sabha elections.

Earlier on Saturday, Congress announced that it will launch a nationwide crowdfunding campaign called 'Donate for Desh' on December 18, to raise funds for the upcoming 2024 Lok Sabha elections. 

The campaign will be launched on Monday in Delhi, led by party head Mallikarjun Kharge. Individuals above the age of 18 can pay a minimum of Rs 138 or multiples of Rs 1,380 to assist the campaign, according to Congress General Secretary KC Venugopal and Treasurer Ajay Maken.

Venugopal stated that the crowdfunding campaign was inspired by Mahatma Gandhi's 'Tilak Swaraj Fund,' which was created over a century ago in 1920-21. The goal is to bolster the party's efforts to create an India with equal resource distribution and opportunity.