+reponds+to+Union+home+minister+Sushilkumar+Shinde+on+source+of+foreign+funding.jpg "Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) reponds to Union home minister Sushilkumar Shinde on source of foreign funding")
In reply AAP convener Arvind Kejriwal has said that, 'Let them probe us, but probe Congress & BJP funding too.'
Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) stands for honesty and clean politics and thus we are ready for any kind of probe into our funds. We instead welcome any kind of impartial inquiry. But the question that AAP asks is that whether any other political party can claim similar transparency?
When AAP was formed, we announced it clearly that we are coming not to do politics but to change the dirty politics. We feel there cannot be anything better for political system in India than investigation into sources of political funding.
Because of this, AAP welcomes union home minister’s statement regarding prove into AAP funds. We feel that alongwith AAP, there should be a probe into funds of all political parties of the country and if corruption is found in any of them than their leaders should be sent to jail.
Inquiry into funding of political parties should start from AAP and we have no problem with it.
However, if the union home minister doesn’t order inquiry into funding of all political parties than it would be clear that BJP, Congress and all other political parties are securing funds for themselves through corruption.
AAP is proud of the public support and contributions it has received since its formation. We have record of every rupee we have got and we are confident that we have not broken any law anywhere.
As far as the question of foreign funding is concerned, all the funds that AAP has got from foreign are from people who hold Indian passport. By receiving funds from Indians, who are holding Indian passports, even if they are abroad, is not illegal under any law of the country.
AAP is unlike those political parties and has name of all donors unlike those political parties who don’t reveal sources of donations which are of less than Rs 20,000 – because at present they are not required to reveal the name of the individuals or organisations who contribute less than Rs 20,000.
A recent study by the Association for Democratic Reforms showed that 2/3rd (75 %) of the funding of our political parties like BJP, Congress, BSP comes from unknown sources.
As per ADRs analysis, the total income of the six national political parties – Congress, Bharatiya Janata Party, Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), Communist Party of India (CPI) and Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPI-M) –between 2004-05 and 2011-12 - was Rs 4,895.96 crores.
Of the total of Rs 4895.96 crores, 2/3rd (around 75 %) of their income (Rs 3,674.50 crores) came from unknown sources. These figures were based on analyses of income tax returns and statements filed with the Election Commission by the political parties during 2004-05 to 2011-12.
ADR’s analysis had also revealed that Congress and BJP had got funding from a foreign company - Vedanta - something which is not allowed under the Sections 3 and 4 of the Foreign Contributions (Regulation) Act 1976.
Thus the question is whether the other political parties follow what they preach about transparency? Are they ready to share the source of their funding?
But AAP is ready. We welcome any authority to come and check our accounts because this is the new, transparent and honest politics that AAP is preaching and practising.
We are determined in our campaign and such kind of attacks cannot deter us from our path. Political parties are indulging in such kind of attacks because they are scared of awakening of the common man – which AAP is doing.
