"Saw Question Hour List, Understood Congress Anxiety": Amit Shah On Uproar In Parliament Over India-China Face-Off

Amit Shah said that the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA) licence of RGF was canceled as the foundation accepted a grant of over Rs 1 crore from the Chinese Embassy and Rs 50 lakh from Naik.

Amit Shah said Congress raised Tawang clash in Lok Sabha to avoid question on Rajiv Gandhi Foundation’s FCRA licence

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Following the abrupt adjournment of Lok Sabha on Tuesday, the Union Home Minister Amit Shah while addressing the media outside the Parliament said that the Congress MPs disrupted the Question Hour by raising the issue of the clash between Indian and Chinese soldiers in Tawang to avoid questions on the money received by the Rajiv Gandhi Foundation (RGF) from China and controversial preacher Zakir Naik’s organisation.

Amit Shah said that the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA) licence of RGF was canceled as the foundation accepted a grant of over Rs 1 crore from the Chinese Embassy and Rs 50 lakh from Naik.

"I saw the question hour list and after seeing question number 5, I understood the anxiety (of Congress). The question was regarding the cancellation of the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA) licence of the Rajiv Gandhi Foundation (RGF)," Amit Shah was quoted as saying by the news agency ANI.

 

He further said that he would have given an answer to this question in the parliament if they would have allowed him and claimed "Rajiv Gandhi Foundation received grant of Rs 1.35 crores from the Chinese Embassy during 2005-2007, which was not appropriate as per FCRA. So as per the rules, Home Ministry cancelled its registration."

The FCRA licence of the foundation was cancelled two months ago, reportedly after investigations by a ministers' committee formed by Amit Shah-led Ministry of Home Affairs.

The Congress on Sunday lashed out at the Narendra Modi government for canceling the FCRA licence of the Rajiv Gandhi Foundation (RGF) and Rajiv Gandhi Charitable Trust (RGCT), saying it was aimed at defaming and diverting public attention from issues of day-to-day concern to the common people.

“Over the Deepavali weekend, the Ministry of Home Affairs, Govt of India, cancelled the FCRA registrations of both the Rajiv Gandhi Foundation and the Rajiv Gandhi Charitable Trust. They recycle old charges against the RGF and RGCT. This is to defame and divert public attention from issues of day-to-day concern to them,” Jairam Ramesh, AICC general secretary in charge of communications, said in a statement.

He added that the trusts have always been purely charitable in nature and comply with all laws and regulations.

Ramesh further said the two organisations will respond to the charges hurled at it and take whatever action it deems appropriate legally.

“The RGF and RGCT will of course be responding to the charges hurled at it and take whatever action it deems appropriate legally. Their activities are completely open and transparent. They have rendered yeoman public service. Meanwhile, the Congress will not be browbeaten or deterred from continuing with the Bharat Jodo Yatra,” he added.