UK, US NRI community clashes over charity money being used to 'fund' Hindu sectarian outfits

It started as an ideological spat last November between two sections of the Indian-American community. It turned ugly very soon and has so far embroiled a host of players, including several blue-chip corporates and the US Department of Justice.

At the prodding of the US State Department, the Justice Department has launched an investigation into charges that millions of dollars raised by the Maryland-based India Development and Relief Fund (IDRF) were used to fund Hindu fundamentalism in India. The investigations are to be part of the wider scrutiny into allegations of US-based charities funding terror activities worldwide.

For the BJP-led Government at the Centre, it is the kind of publicity it could do without. For the Americans, the controversy is a potential embarrassment involving what it believes could be a long-term ally. So far, the Bush Administration has steered clear of the controversy even though the media has focused on it.

THE IDRF SLANGING MATCH CHARGES Misrepresented its objectives to raise funds from unsuspecting individuals to fund sectarian organisations in India. Since its inception 13 years ago, IDRF's goal is to support RSS affiliates in India. Seventy per cent of its funds diverted to fund Hindu extremism activities in India though a quarter of IDRF corpus is in donor-designated funds. The charity didn't raise funds to support victims of the 2002 communal riots in Gujarat. COUNTERS Charges yet to be proved. The US Internal Revenue Service retains its tax-exempt status. Its founder Vinod Prakash is an RSS member but there is no formal relationship between the two organisations. It selects NGOs with proven track records and they do not stand up to any such claim. IDRF doesn't raise funds for victims of communal violence. Funds for Bangladeshi-Hindus came through donor-designated window, over which it has no control.