Opposition trains guns on PM CARES
-The Hindu Lok Sabha passes taxation Bill; Congress, Trinamool MPs say it is meant only to clear the fund. The Lok Sabha cleared the Taxation and Other Laws (Relaxation and Amendment of Certain Provisions) Bill, 2020, here on Saturday, despite strong criticism from the Opposition which said the Bill was aimed at giving an “all clear to the PM CARES Fund”. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said the Bill will replace an ordinance brought in to help the common man during the COVID-19 times. ‘Absolutely transparent’ Minister of State for Finance Anurag Thakur in his response to the debate on the Bill, said the PM CARES Fund was absolutely transparent and had been set up under the law and registered as a Trust under the 1908 Act. “An independent auditor has been appointed and it is the same auditor which audits the PM National Relief Fund. Nobody is forced to donate to this fund. The Trustees of the PM CARES Fund are all ex officio members, including the Prime Minister, Minister of Defence, Minister of Home Affairs and Minister of Finance,” he said. Questioning the distrust about the fund, Mr. Thakur asked, “Is there any past experience which has caused it? PM CARES Fund today has five times more funds than the PM National Relief Fund.” Please click here to read more. |
The Hindu, 19 September, 2020, https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/opposition-trains-guns-on-pm-cares/article32650203.ece?homepage=true
Tagged with: PM CARES PM-CARES Fund Transparency Accountability PM National Relief Fund. Mahua Moitra Comptroller and Auditor General of India Lok Sabha
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