Union Home Minister Amit Shah exposed the UPA-era mismanagement of the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund (PMNRF) and slammed the Opposition for spreading lies about the PM-CARES Fund. Speaking in the Rajya Sabha during the debate on the Disaster Management (Amendment) Bill, 2024, Amit Shah tore into the Congress’s past handling of relief funds, alleging that money meant for disaster relief was diverted to the Rajiv Gandhi Foundation (RGF)—an organisation controlled by the Nehru-Gandhi family.
As the Rajya Sabha passed the Disaster Management Bill, Amit Shah challenged the Congress to explain its fund management failures, accusing it of running a corrupt system where the ruling party’s president controlled crucial financial resources. “It has become a culture to make wild accusations and then run away. But this is Parliament, not a street protest. If you level allegations, you must listen to the response,” Amit Shah said, as Opposition MPs sat in stunned silence.
Congress’s PM Relief Fund ‘Looted’ for Nehru-Gandhi family interests
Countering Opposition claims that PM-CARES operates without transparency, Amit Shah pointed out that the fund is governed by the Prime Minister, Home Minister, Defence Minister, and Finance Minister, with a strict financial oversight mechanism in place. This stands in stark contrast to the Congress-era PMNRF, where the Congress president was a direct member, enabling a single political family to control and manipulate funds.
Amit Shah further exposed how the UPA government funneled funds from PMNRF to the Rajiv Gandhi Foundation (RGF), an organisation with alleged links to foreign donations, religious conversion groups, and Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs). He stated, “You talk about transparency? Your party has been involved in scams from Jeep to Bofors to 2G. The people of Bharat know your history.”
This direct charge left the Congress benches fuming, but the Home Minister did not hold back. He demanded that the Opposition clarify why public money meant for disaster relief was being channeled into a foundation controlled by the Nehru-Gandhi family.
Disaster relief funds are for crisis, not for freebies
Amit Shah also took on the Trinamool Congress (TMC), which protested against alleged non-disbursement of disaster relief funds to West Bengal. The Home Minister debunked this claim, stating that under the Modi government, disaster relief allocation to the state has increased by 300 times compared to previous Congress-led governments.
He further dismissed the Opposition’s demand for more funds, making it clear that disaster relief money is meant for actual crisis situations—not for political freebies. This was a direct jab at states like West Bengal, where Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has faced criticism for misusing Central funds and failing to provide relief to disaster-affected citizens.
Amit Shah’s assertion—“This fund is not meant for financing your freebies”—triggered angry protests from TMC MPs, who then staged a walkout. But Amit Shah was unrelenting. “You (TMC) must explain to the people why you demand more money but fail to distribute the funds that you already receive.”
No place for riots under disaster management: Amit Shah schools opposition
One of the most contentious points of the debate came when some Opposition members, particularly from TMC, demanded that riots be included under the definition of disasters in the amendment. Amit Shah flatly rejected this, stating, “What is the relation between disaster management and riots? Is it because there are too many riots in your state?”
His response sent shockwaves through the Opposition benches, particularly among TMC members, who have been accused of lawlessness and political violence in Bengal. As Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar did not allow further disruptions, TMC MPs staged a dramatic walkout.
While defending the amendment, Amit Shah also highlighted Bharat’s growing global leadership in disaster management and climate change under Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He reminded the House that Modi was awarded the United Nations’ ‘Champion of the Earth’ title, a recognition for his efforts in environment conservation and disaster response.
Amit Shah outlined how Bharat has assisted nations like Indonesia, Bangladesh, Maldives, and Italy in disaster relief efforts, strengthening its position as a global leader in humanitarian assistance.
The Disaster Management (Amendment) Bill, 2024, which was cleared in the Lok Sabha in December 2024, was approved by voice vote in the Rajya Sabha despite Opposition objections. Several amendments proposed by the Congress and its allies were rejected outright.
Amit Shah defended the need for this legislative update, arguing that laws must evolve over time. “If a building is not repaired, it will collapse. Similarly, laws must be updated to include best practices. Why should anyone object?” he asked, effectively silencing the Opposition’s resistance.
