Nearly 200 supporters and workers of BSP in Kanpur have received Income-Tax notices asking them to explain the source of the money they had donated generously to the party in 2005. Shocked by the I-T notice, many local party leaders and workers have rushed to the party higher-ups to seek their help in filing reply to the notice.

According to sources at I-T department, the notices were served as a routine exercise without any political intention. All those who have gifted funds or property to anyone were asked, through notices, to file their reply explaining the earnings.

Former district chief of the party, Ramasre Kureel, who is said to have donated around Rs 1 lakh, told The Indian Express that he was shocked to receive the notice but senior party leaders in Lucknow helped him to file the reply.

Supporting the system of donation to the party, Kureel said that after all BSP is a party of common man, especially the class which had been neglected till recent past. “It is the trust and faith in the party chief that motivated the supporters to donate funds and strengthen the party,” he said. He himself received financial assistance from the party at the time of need. The party fund is being utilised for the welfare of people, he claimed.

Other local leaders of the party, who have received the I-T notice through speed post, undersigned by former additional director (I-T) Daya Ram, include Sunil Babu, RG Sankhwar, Sheetla Prasad and others. Sources informed that most of the party workers had borrowed money from their kith and kin to make donations to the party, which they have mentioned in the reply sent against the notices.

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