Lok Sabha polls 2014: Tea companies funding Congress campaign, admits Tarun Gogoi

GUWAHATI: Assam chief minister Tarun Gogoi has said political parties should stop big corporate houses from invading the democratic process by funding election expenses for their vested interests.

He said the practice of corporate houses funding polls prevailed in the US and Japan, but was unwelcome in India as it will polarize voters and divide them into the rich and the poor. Admitting that major tea companies in the state had donated to the election fund of Congress's state unit, Gogoi, however, said big corporate houses putting their money on Narendra Modi was a dangerous trend.

He said PCC had given Rs 30 lakh to each of its 13 candidates. "Our funds have come mainly from donations and a part of it from a few big tea companies based here and in Kolkata. These donations are not that large, not even Rs 50 lakh," he added. Gogoi said the party sometimes approached companies for donations and sometimes companies would voluntarily contribute.

"They will give us more if we give them benefits like Modi. We do not promise anything to our donors. They give on their own for the various services we provide, like security that we provide them here," he said.

"Modi gave government land to the Adani group at throwaway rates of Re 1 per sq metre at Aurangabad. The same piece of land will cost Rs 100 per metre here. Modi has also given huge loan benefits to the Tatas," Gogoi said.