NEW DELHI -- After nosediving over the past few months, donations to the Aam Aadmi Party sharply rose on a day the party fielded its chief Arvind Kejriwal to make an emotional pitch to the public, with around 540 contributors today chipping in with over Rs. 6.50 lakh.
Kejriwal's public appeal had a visible impact if one were to go by the figures released by AAP, as donations crossed the one lakh barrier after nearly two months.
"The amount reached Rs. 6,75,783 with 537 contributors responding to the appeal by evening," a party functionary said.
Till yesterday, the highest figure for this month stood at Rs. 28,702 which was recorded on July 1. The month's lowest was recorded on July 11 with a paltry donation amount of Rs. 709.
The party received a total of Rs. 4,22,772 in donations in the entire month of June with a corresponding average of Rs. 14,092 daily. It reached its nadir on June 17, when Rs. 100 was donated to the party.
The last time the donation figures crossed the one lakh mark was on May 19, when AAP received Rs. 1,18,964. But the months of June and July have only seen a freefall.
"From where should we get funds to run the party. We do not accept money from the Ambanis or the Adanis or any industrial house. For running a party we need funds and we are requesting people to donate," AAP leader Sanjay Singh said.
The Delhi Chief Minister today urged people to chip in even if the amount was as low as Rs. 10. "Give us because even your Rs. 10 would help us practice honest politics," he had said.
The Congress has dubbed the appeal for money a "misadventure".
"It's an insult to the constitutional office he (CM Kejriwal) holds, it's neither correct nor appropriate," the party's Communication department in-charge Randip Surjewala said on Twitter.
"No PM, CM or elected person holding a constitutional office in India has ever appealed for collection of money for his party."
"Mr.Kejriwal should give a full account of money his party collected, to ppl of country before proceeding on such a misadventure", he said. Claiming that AAP had run out of cash, Kejriwal appealed to the public to donate money to help run the party's daily expenses.
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