Congress launches online crowd funding Initiative “Donate for Desh” to stand as a “formidable force” against an “affluent-favoring” Government

Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge inaugurated the party’s “Donate for Desh” campaign on Monday. The campaign is an online crowd-funding initiative undertaken by the grand old party to “stand as a formidable opposition against a government favouring the affluent”, before the all-important 2024 Lok Sabha elections. “If you work only by depending on the rich people, then you have to follow their policies,” said Kharge taking a dig at the Union government.

"It's the first time that Congress is asking people for donations for the nation. If you work only by depending on the rich people, then you have to follow their policies. Mahatma Gandhi also took donations from the public during the freedom struggle,” said the Congress President at the inaugural event of the online crowd-funding initiative.

Inspired by Mahatma Gandhi’s “Tilak Swaraj Fund”, the crowdfunding initiative has been undertaken by the Congress "to champion the rights of marginalized communities, bridge disparities, and stand as a formidable opposition against a government favouring the affluent".

The BJP was quick to take a jibe at Congress’s crowd-funding initiative, and warned the masses against donating for a “dynasty”. "Don't be fooled by the Congress's lofty talk of this crowdsourcing being inspired by Mahatma Gandhi's historic Tilak Swaraj Fund. They will tarnish both the Mahatma and Tilak. Going by their previous track record, this will turn out to be nothing but another attempt to siphon off public money and enrich the Gandhis. All the hard-earned money people donate, if they do, will go to the Gandhis, who will continue to enjoy the good life. Worse, the move will be reduced to nothing, but another means to solicit dirty money, the kind Congress MP Dhiraj Sahu has been caught with," posted BJP leader Amit Malviya on social media platform “X”.

The “Donate for Desh” campaign coincides with the 138th anniversary of the Congress party. On the Congress website, the payment link encourages donors to contribute amounts such as ₹138, ₹1,380, or ₹13,800. However, donors have the option to donate a different amount of their choosing.