New Delhi: Former Finance Secretary to the Government of India EAS Sarma has written a letter to Cabinet Secretary Rajiv Gauba that the news regarding recommendation for a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe against the Harsh Mandar’s NGO, by Union Home Ministry, is a mockery of justice. According the report, Sarma termed media reports as annoying. His letter included a link of an NDTV report with headline ‘Center recommends CBI probe against activist Harsh Mandar’s NGO.’ It has been reported by several media outlets, citing Home Ministry officials who did not want to be named, that the CBI has sought a probe against the temple’s NGO for alleged violations of the Foreign Contribution Act (FCRA).
Sarma, in his letter, said he wants to remind Gauba that the Modi government has itself made it easy for BJP and Congress to receive donations from foreign resources by violating FCRA.
He also wrote that both the national parties receive donations from foreign sources, which is in violation of the provisions of the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act (FCRA) of 1976 and the subsequent FCRA in 2010, every year.
Sarma says, instead of taking action against the BJP for allegedly violating the FCRA the government changed the laws retrospectively.
He further wrote, if the government would have any respect for maintaining the integrity of the electoral process, it would have immediately taken further steps for action against political parties, including the BJP, for violating the FCRA, especially keeping in the view the facts that in any other case receipt of foreign donations by parties can severely damage our democracy.
Instead, current NDA government took extraordinary step of amending the laws with retroactive effect that were disrupting foreign donations flow to the bank accounts of the political parties.