Mumbai:
Just a day ahead of Sonia Gandhi's visit to Wardha in Maharashtra, a fund raising controversy has the Congress on the back foot.
It all began after a conversation between 2 state Congress leaders - Congress state chief Manikrao Thakre and former minister Satish Chaturvedi - discussing raising money from ministers for the rally was caught on tape.
Here are excerpts of that conversation.
Thakre: The cabinet also...
Chaturvedi: If we ask for more, then (the ministers) will run away
Thakre: We have already taken Rs.10 lakh each from them. It was used for making flags.
Chaturvedi: Yes, that that is what they are saying. That they have already paid.
Thakre: Expenditure is about Rs.1.5 Cr. They have already paid for flags. The CM called. He said we will keep giving. He will give Rs 2 cr for 2000 buses today.
The video is result of an indiscreet conversation right after a press conference. What makes matters worse is that this rally in in Wardha, the land of the father of the nation , Mahatma Gandhi, known for his austere ways. And its is a red rag to the opposition questioning where the money came from and suggesting that the Congress pays people to turn up at their rallies.
"This demanding of Rs 10 lakhs each form the ministers by Manikrao Thakre shows the corruption culture within the Congress," BJP President Nitin Gadkari said.
The BJP may be accusing the Congress of corruption, but chief minister Ashok Chavan says there's nothing illegal about it.
"All money we receive is accounted for. I don't think the BJP has any right to criticise us. Their Party President Bangaru Laxman took money under the table, so they have no right to say anything," Chief Minister Ashok Chavan said.
Congress president Sonia Gandhi will address a 'Sadbhawana Rally' at Sewagram in Wardha district tomorrow to mark the culmination of the flag march undertaken by party workers on Gandhi Jayanti on October 2. The flag march, undertaken as part of the 'Gram Se Sewagram' march, was conceptualised to mobilise party cadres at the grass roots to commemorate the 125th anniversary celebrations of Congress.