How Ford Foundation funded a political party?

New Delhi, May 4: The investigations being carried out against the Ford Foundation has found that it has funded a political party which runs contrary to the law.

While the funding by the Ford Foundation to several NGOs such as the Sabrang Trust are under the scanner the donations that Ford Foundation allegedly made to NGOs is being debated, but contributions to a political party is something that they will need to explain as it is not permissible under the law.

The investigators have found that these donations made under the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act can be made only to the NGOs and not the political parties.

Donation to political party under scanner

Investigations suggest that the donation was made to a political party by the Ford Foundation. It is alleged that these donations were either received directly or through an NGO.

Investigators are looking into the route that the money has taken before it reached the political party. It is an illegal act and does not satisfy the norms under the FCRA, an official told OneIndia.

Under the scanner is also some of the donations made to certain companies which have recorded a profit. It beats our logic and we are probing as to why such donations or contributions were made, a home ministry official said.

Explanation is needed

The Home Ministry official says that an explanation will sought from Ford Foundation and also the political party which has allegedly benefited due to this contribution. We will also question these profit making companies about the contribution and find out why and how these donations were made.

While Ford Foundation has denied that it has funded any political party, investigators say that the funding was done indirectly. An NGO belonging to a leader of the political party received the funds and then routed it.

First the NGO receives the funds and then routes it into the political party. This trail has been found and it is completely illegal. The nature of an NGO is to carry out social work and not collect funds on behalf of a political party, the official also said.

The rules clearly state that under the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act, no donor can fund political parties or any organization which makes profits- directly or indirectly.

Ford Foundation was recently placed under the watch list by the Union Home Ministry. Several contributions made by the Ford Foundation had come under the scanner and one of the biggest cases was related to the Teesta Setalvad run Sabrang Trust.

OneIndia News