Politicians question source of funding of Kejriwal's AAP

Cutting across party lines, various politicians on Tuesday, questioned the source of funding for the Arvind Kejriwal-led Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), which is making its political debut in assembly elections in Delhi next month.

On receiving several complaints, including from Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit, Union Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde had announced on Monday that his ministry will investigate the alleged source of the foreign funds.

Kejriwal has welcomed the probe, but said that its ambit should be broadened to investigate the source of funds of the Congress Party and the Bharatiya Janata Party as well.

BJP leader Subramanian Swamy said: "It is all misleading. I, therefore, called up my friends in the United States, and asked have any of you donated to (India's regional Aam Aadmi Party). One of them said yes, I have. I asked are you a citizen of the United States? He said yes. I asked did you disclose that? He said yes, I disclosed it. I said (asked) you have a receipt? He said yes. (I asked) Will you send it to me? So he has sent me the papers and I'm just looking at it and I will release it to the press. I will get a copy, don't worry. Kejriwal (chief of AAP, Arvind Kejriwal) as usual has been telling lies. He is actually a front for the Naxalite movement. They are using this gloss of fighting corruption."

Kejriwal and his party are leaving no stone unturned to garner support. Kejriwal is seen as an anti-corruption crusader who is now more popular than any of his rivals vying to become the chief minister of Delhi.

The AAP, which promises transparent political funding and candidates without criminal records, may not have enough momentum to win in Delhi, but the party's strong presence in its first electoral is quite alarming.

Congress leader Rita Bahuguna Joshi said: "I think this matter is undisputable. This shows the double standards of the Aam Aadmi Party and their political aspirations which blossomed after their protests that led to them forming this political party to attain power. But they need to answer for these funds they have received."

Communist Party of India (CPI) National Secretary D. Raja said: "Probe per say is correct and if there is some wrongdoings, wrong dealings as for us getting funds, that should be probed. Nobody objects to probe. But the timing and the selecting of the probe are being questioned. Why only one party? Then you'll have to order probe for other parties also. So that is what the common people are questioning the timing and the selective targeting of one party that home ministry must explain."

The AAP alleges that it is being targeted as opinion polls have predicted better prospects for them.

About one-third of AAP's funding has come from expat Indians, which they say cannot be called 'foreign funds' as the donations by non-Indian passport holders have not been accepted.

Opinion polls show that the country's grand old parties - the Congress and the BJP- are already losing ground to a clutch of increasingly powerful regional parties.

The party, which is contesting all 70 seats in Delhi state legislature, says that if it comes to power, corrupt lawmakers will be sent to jail within six months. They also promise that each family in Delhi will get 700 litres water free every day and their water bills will be waived off.

Delhi, which has been under the rule of the Congress party for the past three terms, will vote on December 4 and the results will be announced on December 8.