New Delhi: Congress hit out the Modi government for running ‘smear campaign’ against the party using the world-famed Islamic scholar Dr Zakir Naik and his NGO Islamic Research Foundation.
In a statement on Saturday, Congress communication Department incharge , Randeep Singh Surjewala alleged that the Modi government is running its usual diabolical agenda to slender, malign and defame through ‘Goebbelsian lies’ meted out by Home Ministry in shape of mischievous and selective news plants.
To top this venal conspiracy of muckraking, he said the Modi government and BJP fielded Union Cabinet Minister, Ravi Shankar Prasad. What is utterly shocking is the fact that a Union Cabinet Minister, who has sworn by the Constitution, is asking questions about documents and facts, which are in possession of the Government and are being leaked by them mischievously. Truth is that Rajiv Gandhi Charitable Trust (RGCT) received a donation in conformity with law and norms and same was returned by the Trust out of its volition in view of the controversy surrounding IRF/Zakir Naik. We, therefore, place the following incontrovertible facts:-
1-In 2011, the Rajiv Gandhi Charitable Trust (“RGCT”) received one single unsolicited stray donation of Rs.50 lakh from Islamic Research Foundation (“IRF”), which was directly deposited in the RGCT account by IRF through cheque.
2-The donation was followed up by IRF with a donation letter informing the RGCT that the money was to be used for its “general fund” and PAN card details were enclosed in accordance with law. IRF did not inform RGCT that this donation was in any way connected to FCRA.
3-In early July, 2016; when the IRF/Zakir Naik controversy became public, RGCT took a decision and refunded this money to IRF. RGCT also took a decision that after the refund of this “single stray donation” RGCT will have no engagement of any type with IRF.
4-The Rajiv Gandhi Foundation (“RGF”) is a distinct, separate, unallied and independent legal entity from RGCT and has never had any donation/funds from IRF and has no connection whatsoever with IRF.
The Congress Party urged the Modi government to stop its web of vengeful deceit and lies as it will never be able to cloud the truth.