Yogendra Yadav's R-Day Google Hangout raises Rs 18 lakhs

A Google Hangout by Aam Aadmi Party senior leader Yogendra Yadav on India's 65th Republic Day raised Rs 18 lakhs from the party's supporters worldwide.

The Google Hangout with Yadav was held in 17 cities across the globe, including London, Amsterdam, Tokyo, Boston, Washington DC, Chicago and Philadelphia, wherein AAP supporters posed direct questions to the leader.

A total of Rs 18 lakhs was raised through the Hangout session, according to a release issued by the party yesterday from Silicon Valley, California.

"This is one of the second highest daily contributions that the AAP has received since the beginning of this year. On New Year's day, the party had raised Rs 40 lakhs," the release said.

The Hangout session coincided with AAP's "Let's celebrate Swaraj" fund-raising campaign for the Republic day.

"It was wonderful to see the response of our global community. Clearly there are huge expectations from the AAP," Yadav said.

"There is no government in the history of Indian politics that has accomplished so much since coming to office. In fact, independent observers are suggesting that we slow down!" he added.

Himanshu Sharma of New Jersey, who participated in the Hangout, said: "It was highly motivating to hear Yogendra Yadav. Looking at the outpouring of support for AAP across India, there is a need for Aam Aadmi Party to rise up to the expectations of citizens of India and provide them an alternative politics in 2014 Lok Sabha elections.