BJP ready to probe into VHP's misuse of foreign funding

| 04 October 1999 21:40 IST

The Bharatiya Janata Party-led government at the centre has expressed its preparedness to also enquire into foreign funding of the organisations like the Vishwa Hindu Parishad.

"We will definitely take action against the VHP if it is proved that they are utilising foreign funds for political propaganda in India", claims Ram Naik, minister of state for home affairs.

He has also stated that his party, if comes to power once again, would amend the Foreign Contributions Regulators Act (FCRA) in order to give more teeth to it for the misuse of foreign funds received by several NGOs in the country.

While retaliating on the charge that the VHP, one of the organisations of the Sangh Parivar, also receives foreign funds, Naik also denied that his government has clamped upon the NGOs because they had carried anti-BJP campaign during elections.

He strongly objected to the Communalism Combat and several other organisations releasing newspaper advertisements during elections, regarding issues related to sati, dowry, wife beating and other crimes against women, while exposing BJP's approach towards it.

Reading out a slogan of Communalism Combat "hate hurts, harmony works" from the advertisement, Naik asked : "then why are they spreading hurt against somebody ?". He is firm on probing the funding for these advertisements as crores of rupees are being spent on it.

"I owe it to the country to ensure that foreign money does not play its role in Indian elections", quips Naik, who takes pride in personally examining the matter as the home minister and issuing show cause notices to the NGOs.

He also alleges that over Rs 50 crore of rupees were spent on these advertisements and the money received during 1998-99 was utilised for the purpose. He plans to cancel registration of these NGOs if the foreign funds were used in violation of the act.

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