At a time when the Aam Aadmi Party is embroiled in internal squabbling, the Union Home Ministry has added to its woes by sending a notice, asking the party to explain the alleged foreign funding it received.
The beleaguered AAP has been asked to explain the funds trail as there are indications that it may have received certain amount of financial aid from overseas channels. Foreign funding to political parties in the country is prohibited under the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA).
The FCRA mandates that no foreign donations can be received by the political parties. “Political parties can take donations under corporate social responsibility from Indian companies as well as any joint venture companies operating in India. But not foreign companies," said a MHA official.
This time, legal sword seems to be dangling once again on the party which, in its replies to the Home Ministry in the past, has been maintaining that it has not violated the FCRA provisions.
Sources in MHA said they have sent a routine notice to the AAP, asking the party to explain certain aspects only after it gathered details which indicate that a few rules may have been flouted. Now it depends on the replies of AAP whether it is able to clarify the doubts. "We have not issued a showcase notice as of now," an official said .
It is learnt that the notice has been served to certain other political parties and entities as well.
Reacting sharply, the AAP said they have nothing to hide and are ready to face any probe. The party maintained that the MHA had earlier given them a clean chit before the high court which makes the fresh notices questionable. It said the move smelled of political vendetta and witch hunt.
The party claimed that all central agencies have been unleashed on them, their government and ministers and said this was 'dangerous for a democracy'.
