Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel on Sunday asked Prime Minister Narendra Modi to explain why he took donations from Chinese companies like Huawei and PayTM for the Prime Minister’s Citizen Assistance and Relief in Emergency Situation (PM CARES) fund.
Addressing the media, he said: “The country has a right to know about PM CARES fund donations from Chinese companies. There is variance in statements of the External Affairs and Defence Ministers on encroachment by China and building structures along LAC. The Prime Minister has denied it. Is the PM unable to act as he has taken donations?”
Baghel said: “The opposition has a right to seek from the government the details for national interests. PM CARES fund cannot be audited by CAG nor is it under public domain nor under the Right to Information Act. There is zero transparency and accountability.”
“It is Narendra Modi as the Gujarat Chief Minister and then as Prime Minister who made the highest number of trips to China... Modi should not mislead the country on the land acquired along the LAC at different points,” he said.
Answering a query, he said: “The Rajiv Gandhi Foundation received funds for studies on China-India relationship. It was audited and the Home Ministry was intimated. Why are the Ministers raising it now after 15 years? They should instead say whether any construction work has been undertaken by China along the LAC (Line of Actual Control) or not.”