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    Rajiv Gandhi Foundation had commissioned study ‘on export promotion to China’

    Synopsis

    The study was conducted in 2018-19 and the RGF allocated ₹34 lakh for it, but utilised only ₹ 13 lakh, as per the information with the ministry. The funds were further used for providing medical aid to the poor, construction of an eye hospital in the name of former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, farmers’ welfare and women’s participation in self-help groups.

    india-china-tradeAgencies
    The study was conducted in 2018-19 and the RGF allocated ₹34 lakh for it, but utilised only ₹ 13 lakh, as per the information with the ministry.
    New Delhi: Rajiv Gandhi Foundation (RGF), one of the three Nehru-Gandhi family trusts under the scanner for alleged misuse of foreign donations, had commissioned a study on “export promotion to China using Make in India”, information available with the Union home ministry shows.

    The ruling BJP recently accused the RGF of receiving funds from the Chinese embassy in 2005-06 to lobby for a free trade agreement between India and China.

    The study was conducted in 2018-19 and the RGF allocated ₹34 lakh for it, but utilised only ₹ 13 lakh, as per the information with the ministry. The funds were further used for providing medical aid to the poor, construction of an eye hospital in the name of former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, farmers’ welfare and women’s participation in self-help groups.

    Philanthropic organisations based in France, the United States and Switzerland were the primary donors to the RGF and Rajiv Gandhi Charitable Trust (RGCT). These non-governmental organisations (NGOs) included Essilor Social Impact, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Rural India Supporting Trust, The Open University and Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition.
    RGF had Commissioned Study ‘on Export Promotion to China’
    In their declaration to the ministry, RGF and RGCT said “foreign donation is not likely to affect prejudicially the sovereignty and integrity of India, security, strategic, scientific or economic interest of the state; freedom or fairness of election to any legislature, friendly relations with any foreign state; or harmony between religious, racial, social, linguistic or regional groups, castes or communities”. Home ministry officials said such declarations are given by all NGOs receiving funds from abroad to prevent alleged misuse.
    ET’s queries emailed to RGF and RGCT remained unanswered till press time on Thursday.

    A day earlier, the Congress had said the party and its leadership would not be intimidated by the “cowardly acts” and “blind witch-hunt” by a panicked Modi government. “A desperate Modi-Shah government has fallen back on a devious hounding of those exposing its ineptitude by ordering a wholly vicious and vengeful investigation of RGCT and Indira Gandhi Memorial Trust (IGMT),” said a Congress statement.

    The RGF, set up in 1991, is chaired by Congress president Sonia Gandhi. Its members include former PM Manmohan Singh, former finance minister P Chidambaram, Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi and former deputy chairman of the erstwhile Planning Commission Montek Singh Ahluwalia.


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