TMC MP claims most of BJP,Cong,CPM income from unknown sources

NEW DELHI: A Trinamool Congress member today caused a flutter in the Lok Sabha by citing a report which said that major parties like BJP, Congress and CPI-M have not revealed the source of most part of their income despite it being a multi-crore affair.

Raising the issue during Zero Hour, Saugata Roy said that a report of the Association of Democratic Reforms noted that an audit of the parties has revealed "a strange thing" that the income is mostly from unknown sources.

He said the Congress income in 2013-14 was Rs 598 crore while that of BJP was Rs 673 crore. While 83 per cent of the Congress income is from unknown sources, the percentage as regards BJP is 73 per cent.

Amid protests from the Left members, he said the income of CPI-M from 2005 to 2010 was Rs 417 Crore with the party accepting money from hoteliers, developers and others.

Making a strong pitch for the parties to reveal the sources of income, he objected to CPI-M demand that his remarks be expunged.

He said the Election Commission has been time and again telling the political parties to bring transparency in their finances.