Team Herald
PANJIM: Allegations and counter allegations continue over the contribution to Chennai Relief Fund with BJP questioning the Congress about its donation towards rehabilitation of the victims.
“The Congress should not tell us what we (BJP) have to do. We have given immense support and contribution towards any calamity, be it in Latur (earthquake), Uttarakhand flash floods and massive landslides, the floods in Jammu & Kashmir and the disaster at Andhra Pradesh,” BJP Goa Unit President Vinay Tendulkar told the media on Saturday.
He was responding to a question from Congress demanding the cancellation of the grand birthday bash planned for Union Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar on Sunday.
Besides alleging spending State money for the bash, the Opposition had also asked the party to contribute that money for the victims of the Chennai floods.
“BJP had collected Rs 8 crore for the rehabilitation of Uttarakhand victims. We are carrying out a similar exercise for the Chennai calamity. The donations have started pouring in,” Tendulkar claimed while requesting the common man to join the cause.
Tendulkar was then quick to question Congress’ contribution towards such calamities citing that during the Canacona floods in 2009, the funds collected for relief were released only after a media outburst.
“The then Congress government had held back the donations for one year until the media began questioning the delay in releasing the funds. They then purchased some furniture and distributed it to the people, while keeping the rest with them,” he alleged.
