Congress says centre “recycled old charges” to cancel foreign funding licence of Gandhis’ non-profits

New Delhi:

The Congress today accused the Centre of “recycling old charges” to stop the foreign funding license of two non-profits associated with the Gandhi family. The Centre is doing this to “defame and divert public attention from issues of day-to-day concern to them,” the party said in a statement.  

The Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA) licence of the Rajiv Gandhi Foundation (RGF) and the Rajiv Gandhi Charitable Trust (RGCT), were cancelled over alleged irregularities in foreign contributions, officials have said.

“The RGF and RGCT will of course be responding to the charges hurled at it and take whatever action it deems appropriate legally,” read the statement from Jairam Ramesh, the party’s communications in-charge.
The activities of the two non-profits “are completely open and transparent. They have rendered yeoman public service,” Mr Ramesh said.

The Congress, he added, “will not be browbeaten or deterred from continuing with the Bharat Jodo Yatra that resumes on Oct 27th after a 3-day break”.

The government action follows probe by an inter-ministerial committee formed by the Home Ministry in 2020. The investigators covered alleged manipulation of documents while filing income-tax returns, misuse of funds and money laundering while receiving funds from foreign countries, including China.