Amid ruckus in Parliament over the face-off between Indian and Chinese troops in Tawang sector, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, on Tuesday, alleged that the Rajiv Gandhi Foundation (RGF) had received a grant of Rs 1.35 crore from the Chinese Embassy between 2005 and 2007 which was inappropriate as per the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA).

”So, as per the rules, the Home Ministry cancelled its (RGF) registration,” he told reporters at the Parliament House while also alleging that the RGF had also received Rs 50 lakh from controversial preacher Zakir Naik.

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“Today in the Lok Sabha, the Opposition did not allow Question Hour to run. I condemn this act. The Parliamentary Affairs Minister clearly said that the Defence Minister will make a statement on this (Tawang faceoff) in Parliament,” Shah said.

“The Opposition raised the issue of India-China face-off to avoid questions being raised in the Lok Sabha on FCRA violation by the RGF,” he alleged.

The Union Home Minister said, “I saw the Question Hour list and after seeing question number 5, I understood the anxiety (of Congress). The question was regarding the cancellation of the FCRA licence of RGF.

“If they had allowed, I would have given an answer in Parliament that RGF received a grant of Rs 1.35 crore from the Chinese Embassy during 2005-2007, which was not appropriate as per FCRA,” the minister said.

Questioning the motive behind funding from the Chinese Embassy, Shah said, “The Foundation was registered for social work. However, the funds received from the Chinese Embassy were allegedly used to research India-China relationships.

Were the thousands of hectares of land grabbed by China in the 1962 war included in their research? What did the report say? Did they research how Nehru’s love [for China] led to India’s inability to be part of the UN’s Security Council? If they did, what was the outcome of the research? When our soldiers were fighting with Chinese soldiers in Galwan, who was hosting dinner for Chinese Embassy officials? Was it part of their research? If yes, what was the outcome of the research?”