Setback for AAP? Volunteer group AVAM alleges 'dubious companies' funded Kejriwal-led party

NEW DELHI: Questioning claims of 'transparency' by Aam Aadmi Party, AAP Volunteer Action Manch ( AVAM) on Monday alleged that the Arvind Kejriwal-led party (AAP) has indulged in a ' funding scam'.

According to AVAM, AAP received four donations of Rs 50 lakh each from bogus companies. Showcasing what they claimed were screenshots from AAP's website, AVAM said, "All these four donations of Rs 50 lakh each were received on April 5, 2014 at 12:00 AM. All the four companies mentioned on the AAP website are bogus," AVAM claimed, while questioning AAP's funding routes.

"AAP made dummy entries to evade tax," AVAM went on to accuse. "AAP is indulging in money laundering," AVAM alleged.

Reacting to the claims made by AVAM, AAP leader Atishi Marlena said, "We will welcome any investigation agency to probe funds. All transactions are legitimate, we have nothing to hide."

Yogendra Yadav of AAP also denied any allegations and said, "We are the only party which gives an entire account of the funds it receives." AAP leaders went on to accuse that the group (AVAM) making allegations of illegal funding to AAP is funded by the BJP.

In a separate development, AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal said that he will complain to the Election Commission against the BJP for allegedly attacking his community in an advertisement.

"BJP in the past few days has been giving few advertisements personally attacking me. They attacked me and my children, I kept quiet because Anna used to say that if someone personally attacks you, you should have the strength to bear it. But today they have crossed their limit," he said.

"They have called the entire community 'updravi'. BJP's fight is with me, whatever they have to say they should say it against me, they should not attack the entire Aggarwal community," he said.

The BJP advertisement targets Kejriwal for threatening to disrupt the Republic Day parade last year while complaining this year that he was not been invited for the event.

"Desh ke karodon log gantantra divas ko rashtriya parv mante hain, us par garv karte hain (The country's crores of people consider Republic Day as a national festival and feel proud about it). Aur apka updravi gotra isme vyavdhan dalne ko taiyar tha (And your trouble maker community was ready to disrupt it).

"This is unacceptable and they should apologise from the entire community. We will complain to EC that BJP has stooped down to racial attacks. Delhi's people do not like this abusive politics," Kejriwal said.

(With inputs from PTI)