NEW DELHI: Even as senior BJP leaders and Union Ministers accused AAP of involved in money-laundering and nefarious activities with funds received from dubious companies, AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal dared Modi government to probe matter by central government agencies and arrest him, if found guilty.
Following allegations that AAP received Rs 2 crore as donation from four “dubious” companies on the midnight of April 15 last year by AVAM, a breakaway group of volunteers from AAP, BJP leaders launched a scathing attack on AAP leaders to speak about honesty and integrity.
Union Commerce Minister Nirmala Sitharaman alleged AAP has devised a mechanism for routing money from foreign companies which cannot donate to Indian political parties according to law, adding the four dubious companies are created by AAP to run nefarious activities.
Responding to the charges, AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal said it was a conspiracy hatched by BJP to defame his party only five days before elections. He challenged the Narendra Modi-led BJP government to investigate it by any Central government agency and punish him if he is involved in any unlawful activities.
Meanwhile, Union Minister Piyush Goyal said law would take its own course.
Senior AAP leader Yogendra Yadav said in a press conference on Monday: “This is a conspiracy. We invite the government to order an investigation before the February 7 polls itself by any of its agencies be it CBI, ED, IB, Police, Army and subsequently arrest us if we have done anything wrong.”
Yadav said AAP receives all donations through cheques and insists on PAN card details for all transactions to ensure transparency. He ridiculed BJP and Congress for pointing finger at AAP while both parties are known for raising party funds through dubious transactions.
“We’ve taken all donations by cheque. We have a BJP government (at the Centre). Let it investigate. Please punish me if anything wrong is found,” Kejriwal said, adding: “What I had said a day before is coming true. BJP is scared and frustrated, and is now resorting to all sorts of dubious ways to defame us just before Delhi goes to polls.”
