BJP got donation of Rs 200 crore from beef exporter: Azam Khan

Unnao: Uttar Pradesh minister Azam Khan has alleged that the BJP has taken a "donation of Rs 200 crore" from a "beef exporter", a charge denied by the party.

"BJP plays politics on beef. Ironically, it has taken a donation of Rs 200 crore from a big beef exporter. The party should tell how much money was taken in black," he said, while talking to reporters here last night.

Hitting back at Khan, BJP spokesman Vijay Bahadur Pathak today claimed he was making "baseless accusations" on his party.

"He should first give account of money spent in (Mulayam Singh) Yadav's birthday celebration in Rampur. Khan has himself said that the money came from Dawood," he further claimed.

Pathak was referring to Khan's remarks in Rampur last month when he was asked about the funding of the birthday celebrations there.

"Why does it matter where the money for celebrations is coming from? Some have come from Taliban, some from Abu Salem, some from Dawood (Ibrahim), some from terrorist...," he had said in an apparent sarcastic response.

"BJP is the only party, which runs on principles and ideals and such allegations are signs of frustration of the SP leader," he claimed.

On the issue of cow slaughter, Khan said that "whether it's cow or some other animal, there should be no slaughter".

Referring to the controversial Ram Temple issue, Khan said that BJP was only "doing politics" on the issue and asked the party to tell as to how much "donations" it had taken in its name.

"The Ram Temple issue is being raked for political gains. There is a temple. The people have however understood this propaganda now," he said.

On the issue of cleaning Ganga river, Khan said that Centre should tell in what time will it be cleaned.

"One year have passed and now four years are left. They should tell the time-frame for cleaning Ganga,", he added.