HimVani
Mandi (Feb 3): Information sought under Right To Information Act regarding donations made to Swami Vivekanand Trust in Palampur, floated by veteran BJP leader Shanta Kumar, has added another dimension to the ongoing controversy regarding funds available to Tibetan institutions and individuals residing in India.
The information was sought by RTI Bureau, Mandi, in 2009 regarding the income and expenditure details of the said Trust. The information had revealed that the Trust had received substantive donations from Tibetans from 2002 to 2004, including from His Holiness The Dalai Lama.
The Tibetan spiritual head had donated Rs 1 crore towards this Trust (50 lakhs on 9.01.2003 and then again Rs 50 lakhs on 29.11.2003). One Ku-ngo Tsegywlea Tibetan Religious had donated Rs 39,76,870 on 16.9.2004. Further, some four donors having Tibetan or Chinese names donated Rs 24,15,437 each from New York (USA) on the same day. Other prominent donors are mentioned as Mourier Kalans Hebben Moneau (Rs 12, 03,699) and Lemi Haee (Rs 2,26,900) from USA among others.
While disclosing this information, Lawan Thakur, convener of RTI Bureau, Mandi, claimed that politicians, NGOs and bankers have been running money laundering racked, making huge amount of money available for benami land deals in Himachal Pradesh. The Bureau demanded a thorough investigation into the matter, especially regarding people of Chinese origin from USA making donations to the Vivekanand trust.
