“Why is PM so scared of disclosing the names of Donner for PMCare”? Rahul Gandhis
NEW DELHI : Former Congress President Rahul Gandhi has launched a fresh attack against PM Narendra Modi on Saturday, over the PM CARES fund, demanding the disclosure list of donors.
He has alleged that the fund has received generous donations from Chinese giants like Huawei, Xiaomi, TikTok and OnePlus. The Wayanad MP took to Twitter and wrote, “Why is PM so scared of disclosing the names of those who donated money to him for PMCares Everyone knows Chinese companies Huawei, Xiaomi, TikTok and OnePlus gave money. Why doesn’t he share the details?”
Congress has been attacking PM Modi and the BJP-government at centre over PM Cares funds, be it in terms of funding received or questioning the performance of ventilators funded by PM CARES. The new allegations have come in after leaders and supporters of the central government blocked the decision over auditing PM CARES fund.
During a meeting of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) on Friday, panel chairman & Congress MP Adhir Chowdhury’s suggested that the Covid-19 crisis and its economic impact be discussed.
However, a heated debate erupted over the same and senior BJP MP Jagdambika Pal is reported to have mentioned PM CARES fund, how it should not be looked into when the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund is not audited by the CAG.
The committee could not arrive at a consensus over either of the issues – examining the NDA government’s response to the Coronavirus crisis and the new PM CARES fund.
The PAC, one of the most important parliamentary panels which scrutinizes key reports by the auditor general and has taken up issues like the 2G spectrum scandal in the past, failed to arrive at a consensus on Friday on examining the government’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic or the new PM CARES fund set up to tackle the crisis.
The chairman of the committee, Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, appealed to members to think of the nation and act with their conscience and find a consensus on the important subject. Members of the ruling BJP, however, came in full strength with a clear directive to the meeting of the panel to stall Mr Chowdhury’s proposal of examining the government’s handling of the corona virus crisis, sources said.
The biggest support for the BJP came from Biju Janata Dal leader Bhartuhari Mahtani. The opposition was outnumbered with DMK leader TR Balu being one of the few to support the proposal.
Some opposition leaders claimed that the reason for denying the scrutiny of the COVID-19 pandemic and the government’s response is because the BJP is afraid of a closer look into the PM CARES fund which is not under the audit of the Comptroller and Auditor General of India or CAG.
The ruling party, which enjoys a majority in the panel and is led by senior leader Bhupender Yadav, blocked Mr Chowdhury’s attempt to select the PM CARES Fund for examination saying its funding was not sanctioned by parliament and therefore it cannot be taken up by the committee.
The government has said the PM CARES Fund, set up as a war chest for national emergencies to draw individual and private sector donations, will not be looked into by the government’s auditor but by “independent” auditors.The saffron party ensured there was nearly full attendance.
With this decision, the key parliamentary committee will be unable to scrutinise and analyse one of the world’s biggest lock downs, the government’s response and how it is handling the crisis for now.
The PAC, however, agreed to review the construction of border roads at the Line of Actual Control (LAC) and procurement of high-altitude clothing for the armed forces in the wake of the recent clash between Indian and Chinese soldiers in eastern Ladakh that left 20 Indian soldiers dead.
(With Agency Inputs ).
