New Delhi, Sep 10: The Rajiv Gandhi Foundation has returned a donation of Rs 50- lakh it had received from Islamic Research Foundation (IRF), an NGO run Islamic preacher Dr Zakir Naik, who has been targeted by a section of political parties and media for past few months.
The RGCT, a registered, not-forprofit organisation, was established in 2002 to address the development needs of the underprivileged of the country, especially the rural poor. It works in the poorest regions of Uttar Pradesh, one of the least developed states in the country, and Haryana.
IRF spokesperson Aarif Malik said the money had been given to the NGO RGCT, which was also registered under the FCRA in 2011, and it was returned in July this year after a terror attack in a Dhaka restaurant.
"We have received the money back in July this year for reasons best known to the NGO. However, my point is that why has this NGO singled out. We gave money to other NGOs also," Malik said.
He accused the government of having "pre-decided notion" of "banning the organisation after they failed to gather even a shred of evidence" during months of investigation in late 2014 which continued till early 2015.
"I have a simple question. Was there anything wrong in giving donations?" he asked.
Dr Naik and IRF are embroiled in a controversy because of allegations by media that they were inciting youth for terror. However, both Dr Naik and office bearers of his NGO have rubbished the allegation.
The IRF spokesman said that a thorough probe was conducted earlier after the new government took over but they could not find any evidence against it.
"I wonder why our FCRA licence was renewed in August 2016? It is because the officials, who have since been suspended by the Government, went by the rule book and not under external and extraneous pressures," he said.
The Home Ministry had suspended Joint Secretary G K Dwivedi, who was heading the foreigners division which deals with the FCRA related issues, and three other officials for renewal of the licence of IRF.
Congress spokesperson Abhishek Manu Singhvi has owned up the donation but claimed it was unsolicited and a one-off affair. Singhvi emphasised that the donation preceded IRF's embroilment in allegations of terror and forced conversions, adding Naik's NGO was not on the watchlist at the time.
"It (donation) was discovered by chance when the recent events happened... and some months ago, a remittance was made," Singhvi was quoted as saying.
Organisations like IRF registered under the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act are allowed to transfer money they receive from abroad to other FCRA approved bodies. Both RGF and RGCT have FCRA licence.
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Idella Saffu Gang kithapathi.......its a third class government who want to hide all their Scandlels and bad deeds like rape killings attack .
one day will come when we will drag all chaddis to rehabilitation camp and teach what is nationalism what is patriotism
It's clear even Goongress is with BJP....or afraid of it.....haha...
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