NEW DELHI: Controversial Islamic preacher Zakir Naik’s NGO Islamic Research Foundation (IRF) donated Rs 50 lakh to Rajiv Gandhi Charitable Trust (RGCT) in 2011, which returned the money last July after Naik’s provocative speeches came under scanner for purportedly inspiring the perpetrators of the July 1 Dhaka terror attack.
Although the home ministry found nothing wrong with the transaction following the inspection of the IRF’s books in 2014, it triggered a political row on Saturday with the BJP alleging that the donation was a “bribe to shelter Naik’s illegal activities”. The Congress hit back, accusing the Narendra Modi government of hatching a “venal conspiracy of muckraking” to “slander, malign and defame” the party.
Congress president Sonia Gandhi and vice-president Rahul Gandhi are trustees of RGCT. Congress chief spokesman Randeep Surjewala said that in 2011, the RGCT received one single unsolicited stray donation of Rs 50 lakh from IRF, which was directly deposited in the RGCT account through cheque. It was followed up by IRF with a donation letter, informing RGCT that the money was to be used for its ‘general fund’ and PAN card details were enclosed in accordance with law.
Surjewala said that the IRF did not inform RGCT that this donation was in any way connected to the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act ( FCR A ). Following the controversy with regard to Naik after the Dhaka attack and allegations of conversions, the RGCT returned the money to IRF, he said. IRF spokesman Aarif Malik confirmed the money was returned in July.
{{/usCountry}}Surjewala said that the IRF did not inform RGCT that this donation was in any way connected to the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act ( FCR A ). Following the controversy with regard to Naik after the Dhaka attack and allegations of conversions, the RGCT returned the money to IRF, he said. IRF spokesman Aarif Malik confirmed the money was returned in July.
{{/usCountry}}Surjewala said, “The UPA government rejected the licence of (Naik’s) Peace TV in 2008, 2009 and in December, 2012. The donation was made in 2011 and the licence was rejected in December, 2012. Therefore, therefore no ‘quid pro quo’ in the matter.”
Law minister Ravi Shankar Prasad quoted from a December 2012 reply of then information and broadcasting minister Manish Tewari, who had admitted that Naik’s Peace TV was among 24 illegal foreign channels identified by security agencies.
“If the formal view of the government was conveyed in Parliament, why did the Congress not return that money in 2012 itself ?” Prasad asked.
The RGCT-IRF transaction was known to the home ministry since late 2014 when it inspected the IRF’s books. The transaction was reviewed by ministry officials but it was found that the donation couldn’t be used against IRF as any evidence of violation of funding norms because ‘it would not stand any scrutiny in a court’, sources said. “Under the norms, there is no bar on one FCRA registered body to give money to another FCRA registered outfit if the purpose of funding is same,” said an official source.
But Congress clarified that it was ‘general’ donation. “There is nothing to hide about the donation. We donate to many NGOs, which is part of the charter of IRF and like them RGCT was also given money. But we ensure that money goes to only those NGOs registered under FCRA. These donations are mentioned in IRF books and part of its annual reports,” said Malik.