Cong rehashing same accusations as its 'mudslinging' campaign against Naidu: spokesperson

Congress is seeking to "rehash the same accusations" with the sole intention of continuing with its "mudslinging" campaign against NDA vice presidential candidate M Venkaiah Naidu, his spokesperson said today.
His comment came after Congress chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala stepped up the charges against the former Union minister, asking the criteria for granting of exemption in payment of government charges of Rs 2.46 crore to Swarna Bharat Trust of Naidu's daughter.
He also asked why similar exemption was not granted to hundreds of other NGOs by the government.
"The Congress party had raised four issues seeking response from Naidu and they were duly responded to. Congress again today sought to rehash the same accusations with the sole intention of continuing with their mudslinging campaign against Naidu," Y Satya Kumar, spokesperson of Naidu, said in a statement.

He said the issues raised today have nothing to do with Naidu as they include questioning the policies of concerned state governments and Swarna Bharat Trust and it was for them to respond if they want to.
Surjewala had also said the Trust has been issued a notice under Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act, 2010 and asked if it was fair to grant exemption in payment of "public charges" to a trust that is facing FCRA proceedings.

Responding to the allegation, Swarna Bharat Trust CEO J Sarat Babu and Chairman K V Vishnu Raju, in a joint statement, said the Trust had decided not to receive any foreign contributions and has also not received any such contribution till date.

"Since no foreign contributions were received, returns were not filed by the Trust. Assumption that not filing returns would result in cancellation of registration is also a reason for not filing returns since the Trust has decided to have the registration cancelled.
"The said notice also stated that FCRA Registration will be cancelled if no response was received from the Trust. We understand that over 5,000 organisations have received similar notices," they said.
Swarna Bharat Trust is not a family trust and Naidu is not associated with the day-to-day management of the affairs of the Trust, they said, adding the Trust is being run and managed by ten Trustees.

"It may not be inappropriate on our part to appeal to all the concerned not to drag the name of the Trust into unnecessary controversies," they said.