A couple of days ago, the Congress party announced that it would launch the “Donate for Desh” online crowdfunding campaign on 18 December 2023, inspired by Mahatma Gandhi’s “Tilak Swaraj Fund.” AICC treasurer Ajay Maken encouraged donations in multiples of 138 to commemorate the Congress’s 138th anniversary.
On 18 December 2023, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge officially launched the campaign, featuring online portals www.donateinc.in and www.inc.in. Kharge officially initiated the party’s “Donate for Desh” crowdfunding campaign, urging people to “combat unemployment and soaring costs”. Kharge personally contributed ₹1,38,000 to kickstart the initiative, emphasising the importance of public support over-dependence on the wealthy.
⚡The 'Donate for Desh' crowdsourcing campaign begins, inaugurated by Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge.
Meanwhile Kharge ji- 1 month's salary gone 😒 pic.twitter.com/xNoBRetkZK
— Megh Updates 🚨™ (@MeghUpdates) December 18, 2023
The campaign aims to collect funds from small donors, fostering a collective effort for national progress. Treasurer Ajay Maken stated that contributions of ₹138, ₹1,380, or ₹1,38,000 are welcome, symbolizing the party’s 138 years. Ground campaigns are said to follow, targeting contributions of at least ₹138 from each household.
However, netizens pointed out that instead of registering the domain donatefordesh, Congress has chosen to use donateinc.in as the domain name raising questions about the intent of the crowdfunding campaign.
Unfortunately, they failed to secure the corresponding domain names in advance. Consequently, BJP seized control of DonateforDesh.org, and clicking on the link directs visitors to BJP’s donation page. OpIndia, another website, also acquired two related domains associated with the Donate for Desh campaign, redirecting them to their own donation pages.
Congress launches #DonateForDesh campaign but fails to book important domain. BJP bought it & redirected it on their website
Check out 👉 https://t.co/EzdIREg5YC pic.twitter.com/uiWRqOhU4q— Megh Updates 🚨™ (@MeghUpdates) December 18, 2023
BJP also shared a clipping of the 1984 Hindi film Inquilaab where the characters talk about “mixing white money from the public with black money to launder the illegal funds”. This was a jibe at Congress concerning the massive haul obtained from Cong MP Dhiraj Sahu’s residences. In a post on social media platform X, they wrote, “The story and characters in this clip are not imaginary. Resemblance with Congress MP Dhiraj Sahu’s party’s call to seek crowdfunding is intended…”
The story and characters in this clip are not imaginary. Resemblance with Congress MP Dhiraj Sahu’s party’s call to seek crowdfunding is intended… pic.twitter.com/5CDyxrWIol
— BJP (@BJP4India) December 17, 2023
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