BJP president J P Nadda speaking semi-truths: Chidambaram on Chinese funds allegations

New Delhi: Responding to BJP allegations of the Rajiv Gandhi Foundation having received Rs 20 lakh as funds from China in 2005, Congress leader and former finance minister P Chidambaram on Saturday said the BJP president JP Nadda is speaking “semi-truths”.
In a series of tweets, Chidambaram, pointing out that the money had been used for “tsunami relief work in the Andaman and Nicobar”, said that the BJP president JP Nadda is speaking in semi-truths.
“BJP president Mr Nadda specialises in speaking half-truths. Why is the BJP hiding the fact that 20 million rupees received by the RGF (Rajiv Gandhi Foundation) from the PM National Relief Fund in 2005 were for tsunami relief work in Andaman and Nicobar? And that every rupee was spent for the purpose and accounted for?” P Chidambaram tweeted.
Chidambaram said that the grant received by RGF had nothing to do with Chinese incursions on the Indian territory.
”Mr Nadda, come to terms with reality, don’t live in the past that is distorted by your half-truths. Please answer our questions on Chinese intrusion into Indian territory,”he tweeted.
The BJP has been attacking the Congress on the grant of Rs 20 lakh to the Rajiv Gandhi Foundation from China, during the Congress-led Manmohan Singh government.
On Friday, the BJP claimed that the Congress had pushed for a regional trade agreement favourable to China, referring to this as “economic surrender” .
The Congress has termed the allegations by the BJP as an attempt to indulge in diversionary tactics to avoid answering questions on the India China border standoff.
“Diabolical game of deception, diversion and disinformation is being played out by BJP and JP Nadda to divert attention of the country from Chinese occupation of Galwan Valley, Pangong Tso and now Depsang up to the Y-junction, 18 km inside the LAC,” Congress spokesperson Randeep Surjewala said on Friday.
“This is the greatest disservice the BJP and PM are doing to the country. Instead of fighting China and defending our country, they are fighting the Congress and undermining India’s territorial integrity,” he said.