New Delhi: Allegations that AAP received ‘dubious funding’ to the tune of Rs 2 crore from four ‘fake’ companies that do not exist capped an already dramatic Monday, which had seen AAP take on BJP over a ‘casteist’ political advertisement and the resignation of one of BJP CM candidate Kiran Bedi’s campaign coordinators.
Jaskirat Kaur Mann and Rajinder Mann, named by a dissident faction of AAP – AAP Volunteer Action Manch (Avam), as beneficiaries of AAP’s election fund, said they would file a defamation case against Avam. These two names were taken by Avam in their press conference on Tuesday, whom Avam alleged, as having accepted money from Canadian donors illegally and after retaining some amount passing the rest to AAP. Both admit to having donated to AAP in the past, but through legal means.
In a press conference held on Tuesday Avam’s Gopal Goel had alleged that names of Jaskirat and Rajinder Mann feature on AAP’s donor list, however the amount they had donated to AAP was far lower than what they had accepted from donors abroad. As proof Goel furnished copies of some cheques where huge amounts were donated to Jaskirat and Rajinder Mann, with the purpose mentioned on the cheque being ‘AAP election fund.’
Jaskirat Kaur Mann said she was shocked after looking at copies of cheques, which Avam had distributed in their press conference. “When I saw the checks I was shocked because these are fake cheques that I haven’t ever seen in my life. One of the cheques claims I was given three hundred thousand dollars, which is laughably out of proportion with my financial status,” said Jaskirat Kaur Mann.
She along with her husband, she said, were sympathisers of AAP who had in the past donated money to AAP. “When Kejriwal was campaigning in Varanasi last year I donated about Rs 30,000 to AAP and late last year, or just at the beginning of this year, I donated another Rs 5,00,000. But this is my private money on which I have paid taxes, and being holder of an Indian passport I can very well do so,” said Jaskirat.
She said that several Canadians wanted to donate money to AAP but couldn’t, because they didn’t hold Indian passports. “Someone is trying to defame us and Kejriwal needlessly. I am contemplating filing a case against Avam in Canada and seeking legal advice,” said Jaskirat.
“There are people taking money from people who don’t have Indian passports, taking 20% of their share and handing over rest 80% of the money to AAP party,” Goel had alleged, in the press conference
Bureau Report
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