Dismissing the BJP’s claims on the source and spending pattern of its funds, the Aam Aadmi Party on Tuesday challenged the saffron outfit to come clean on its own sources of party funding.
The retort comes a day after the BJP’s Delhi unit claimed that the AAP had “more financial resources than any established political party”, and raised questions on the recent fundraiser meals organised by the party in two metro cities, including Delhi. Leading the AAP’s counterattack from the front was its convener Arvind Kejriwal, who posted three tweets on Tuesday morning. Through his tweets, Mr. Kejriwal announced that his party would file a defamation suit against the BJP for making “arbitrary and baseless allegations against the AAP’s funding”. He also claimed that the BJP’s charges were a ploy to choke the funds coming to the AAP by terrorising those donating money to it.
Party leader Yogendra Yadav said that it was indeed the BJP that had been hiding its sources. “Three-fourth of the BJP’s donations is coming from hidden sources. On the contrary, the AAP has introduced the concept of transparent political funding in the country,” he said. Mr. Yadav reminded his party’s opponents that the AAP’s funds are in public domain and every penny collected is reflected on the party website.
The AAP has also asked five questions to the BJP on the issue of funds. “Is it not a fact that on March 29 this year, the Delhi High Court found the BJP guilty of receiving foreign funds in violation of the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act?” the party asked.
