Uddhav Thackeray demands probe into PM CARES Fund

Uddhav Thackeray, president of the Shiv Sena (UBT) on Thursday demanded a probe to find out how money collected under the PM CARES Fund was utilised.

If there was any corruption in the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), which was run by the undivided Shiv Sena for more than two decades, then investigate it, but also look into the job done by states during the pandemic, he said.

Taking a dig at his former ally Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Thackeray said ideology that has nothing to do with India’s freedom struggle is now ruling the country.

Probe the work done by all states during the pandemic. Also, probe the so-called corruption in the BMC, but then also probe the PM CARES Fund because it was people’s money and they should know how it was used, said the former CM while speaking at an event here.

The Prime Minister’s Citizen Assistance and Relief in Emergency Situations (PM CARES) Fund was set up in 2020 as a public charitable trust to have a dedicated national fund to deal with distress related primarily to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The PM is the chairperson of the fund and its members include defence, home and finance ministers.

With inputs from PTI