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.
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.
“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.