The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has claimed it is not only online donations and cheques details which are put on its website but there is absolute transparency even in case of cash contributions.
“Every rupee donated in cash anywhere in the country is mentioned on our website,” said a senior party functionary.
The party accepts cash at its Connaught Place (central Delhi) and Kaushambi (Ghaziabad) offices, besides at local units in states and during roadshows and other such events. But these are negligible compared to Rs 10 to 20 lakh received as online donations every day.
In March (till Wednesday), a total of 57 donors across the country gave Rs 57,247 in cash to the party. While 513 people donated Rs 4.83 lakh in cash in February, January saw 602 donors giving Rs 7.47 lakh in cash.
“Low cash donation is because we avoid accepting cash. Even at fund-raising dinners, we prefer accepting cheques," he said.
The party’s website mentions cash contributions. Its mentions people like Arijit Saha from Assam who donated Rs 10 in cash on March 19. Arun Kumar Sharma of Uttar Pradesh who donated Rs 1000 in cash on March 15 is another such example.
{{/usCountry}}The party’s website mentions cash contributions. Its mentions people like Arijit Saha from Assam who donated Rs 10 in cash on March 19. Arun Kumar Sharma of Uttar Pradesh who donated Rs 1000 in cash on March 15 is another such example.
{{/usCountry}}"We mention transaction numbers in case of banking transactions. In case of cash we give cash receipt numbers on our website," he said. The party says whichever unit in the country accepts cash donations gives receipts to donors, deposits the amount in party's accounts and send details to be updated on our website.
“It takes time. That’s why unlike online donation, cash donation takes time to reflect on our website.
After Delhi assembly elections, which started on December 12, the party has received more than Rs 14 crore from more than 64,000 donors for the Lok Sabha polls. The party had received Rs 20 crore as donations between November 2012 and November 2013 for the Delhi assembly elections.
At 72.6%, India, followed by US, UAE, UK and Singapore, figures on top of the list of donor counties. In India, maximum money has come from Maharashtra, followed by Delhi and Uttar Pradesh.