Curious case of Army donation to PM fund

New Delhi/Mumbai, May 15: In a curious case, the Army has said no contribution from the salary of any of its personnel has been donated to Prime Minister's Relief Fund, a statement that comes four months after Army Chief Dalbir Singh Suhag had handed over a cheque of Rs 100 crore to the fund.

"It has been intimated by concerned agency that no amount on account of contributions from salary of any Army personnel has yet been donated to the Prime Minister's Relief Fund. The matter is under consideration," Army CPIO Lt Col Rajiv Guleria said in an RTI response to Dehradun-based Prabhu Dandriyal.

The photographs of the 67th Army day event are posted on the website of Prime Minister's Office showing cheque titled "one day's pay of all ranks of Indian Army" being handed over to Modi by Suhag in the presence of Defence Minister Mahohar Parrikar.

Dandriyal has now sent his RTI petition to the Prime Minister's Office seeking to know what happened to the Rs 100 crore cheque which is said to have been donated by the Army chief to the Prime Minister.

"When by March 20 no amount of contribution was taken from the salaries, then how did the Army chief submit the fund of Rs 100 crore to PM relief fund. This is why I have sought clarification from the PMO by filing another RTI," Dandriyal told a news agency.

PTI