PATNA: Election strategist-turned-political activist Prashant Kishor on Wednesday said six chief ministers of the country are with him and they are providing financial assistance for initial stage of his ‘Jan Suraj Yatra’, which he began on October 2 in Bihar and intends to cover 3,500 km on foot, touching every nook and corner of his home state.
Addressing a press conference at Patilar village in Bagaha police district on completion of 200 KM of his yatra, Kishor also said when he would form a political party, he would begin the country’s biggest campaign for crowdfunding in which people would make small contributions and complete the process of funding for a political outfit.
Responding to a specific query about the source of funding for his ‘yatra’, Kishor said, “In the last 10 years, I helped different political parties in at least 11 elections. Of 11 elections, we won ten. In six states, chief ministers are those persons whom I ‘shouldered’ in their process of becoming the CM. I never took money from these people... Now, I am demanding money from them, taking help from them. Now, I am saying to them that I have made an effort in Bihar, please extend help to me.”
Kishor also said, “Six chief ministers in the country are with us. If they extend even smaller assistance, the needs of the ‘Jan Surah Yatra’ will be fulfilled.”
A few weeks ago, the JD(U) national president Rajiv Ranjan alias Lalan Singh had raised questions over the source of funding for Kishor’s Yatra and sought a probe by the central investigating agencies.
Responding to media queries, Kishor further said he had earlier told the media that the money for his Yatra was coming from ‘Sarsawati’, the goddess of wisdom. “Neither I am an MP nor an MLA, nor a minister, nor an officer or a contractor. No one in Bihar can claim that I have taken even a single rupee from any person. I am taking ‘help’ from all those persons whom I helped in becoming the chief minister in the last 1o years.”
Expressing his concerns over the non-availability of a proper platform where common people can make smaller contributions, Kishor further said that there was no ‘technological platform’ either in the country or in Bihar where people can honestly put Rs 100 in a bank for any political party.
Kishor said he would set up a platform where people can honestly contribute a smaller amount. “When we will form a political party, I will begin the country’s biggest campaign for crowdfunding in which people of Bihar will make small contributions and complete the process of funding for the political outfit. For example: More than 13 crore people live in Bihar. If even 2 crore people contribute Rs 100 each, the total amount will be Rs 200 crore. I will begin a campaign before launching our political party where a big fund would be created with the people’s small contributions like Rs 100 or Rs 200.”
