Sharad Yadav defends AAP on donation row

Patna, Feb 4: A day after senior JD(U) leader Nitish Kumar wished good luck to Aam Admi Party leader Arvind Kejriwal, party president Sharad Yadav today defended AAP on the allegation against it that the party received Rs 2 crore donation from sham companies.

"Earlier also such cases had happened. During P V Narsimha Rao's time, a diary having names of 61 people were found. My name was also in the said dairy alleging I had received Rs 5 lakh," Yadav told reporters.

"It was a famous case and all 61 persons were given clean chit in the case. I had said candidly that a person had come to me with Gujarat leader Chimanbhai Patel and given me the money," he said recalling the past incident. "I provided entire expenditure record of the money," he said.

Money to AAP has been given by cheque and it would be easier to trace it, the JD(U) chief said. "The government's duty is to inquire about such money and our responsibility is to give account of money," he said.

Yadav and Nitish Kumar were earlier tipped to campaign for AAP in Delhi but the proposal was shelved after resistance from Congress which is supporting JD(U) government in Bihar. RJD and Samajwadi Party, locked in merger talks with JD(U), have also fielded candidates in Delhi and a campaign in favour of AAP could have a negative impact on the process.

PTI