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BJP ready to probe VHP funds, says minister

Sandesh Prabhudesai in Panaji

The Bharatiya Janata Party-led government at the Centre is prepared to inquire into foreign funding of organisations like the Vishwa Hindu Parishad.

"We will definitely take action against the Vishwa Hindu Parishad if it is proved that they are using foreign funds for political propaganda in India," said Ram Naik, minister of state for home affairs.

Naik said that if his party came to power again, it would amend the Foreign Contributions Regulation Act to give it more teeth to check the misuse of foreign funds received by several non-governmental organisations in the country.

Reacting to the charge that the VHP, one of the members of the Sangh Parivar, also receives foreign funds, Naik denied that his government had clamped down on NGOs because they had assisted the anti-BJP campaign during elections.

But he strongly objected to Communalism Combat and several other organisations releasing newspaper advertisements during elections on issues relating to sati, dowry, wife-beating and other crimes against women, and attacking the BJP's approach towards them.

Reading out a slogan from the Communalism Combat advertisement, "Hate hurts, harmony works", Naik asked, "Then why are they spreading hurt against somebody?"

He was firm on probing the funding for these advertisements as tens of millions of rupees were spent on it, according to him.

"I owe it to the country to ensure that foreign money does not play its role in Indian elections," he said.

Naik said he personally examined the matter as minister of state for home and issued show-cause notices to the NGOs concerned.

He alleged that more than Rs 500 million were spent on the advertisements and money received in 1998-99 was used for the purpose. He said he is planning to cancel the registration of these NGOs if foreign funds were found to have been used in violation of the FCRA.

UNI

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