‘Theft from the Poor’: Rahul Gandhi Targets PM CARES Fund

New Delhi, August 2, 2025: This fierce question, raised in Parliament by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, echoes the hearts of millions of ordinary citizens of the country. More than ₹4,000 crore was collected in the PM CARES Fund, including funds from PSUs and employees’ donations. Yet, no one knows how this amount was spent or where the ventilators bought using this fund ended up. And even now, there is no official audit or report available.

Despite multiple demands from Parliament, even a basic level of transparency has not been ensured. It was also revealed that the ventilators purchased using this fund during the COVID-19 pandemic were faulty, putting lives at risk. So, Rahul Gandhi's sharp criticism is entirely justified.

Transparency is Essential

The PM CARES Fund is not audited by the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG). It is not answerable to Parliament either. Even the RTI Act does not apply to it. This has led to serious questions and suspicions. What is the justification for such secrecy in a country that upholds democracy and transparency?

This is not just a political controversy. It is a serious matter of public accountability. This kind of fund-handling, which avoids all forms of scrutiny, is not suitable for any democratic nation.

Allegation of Faulty Ventilators

The ventilators purchased using the PM CARES Fund were reportedly faulty. They were distributed to various states during the pandemic but were not usable. States like Punjab and Chhattisgarh even returned them. Why were such substandard machines bought? Who benefited from this deal? What happened to the patients who had to depend on these ventilators? None of these questions have been answered.

What Should Be Done

The government must be ready for a transparent audit of the PM CARES Fund. The money in it is not private property. It was collected from the people—many of whom contributed despite their financial struggles. Therefore, the public has every right to know how their money was spent.

It is not acceptable that while ventilators failed to work, those responsible face no consequences. Those who approved and purchased faulty machines using public funds must be held accountable.

What Rahul Gandhi Said...

Rahul Gandhi, during his intervention in the no-confidence motion in Parliament, asked the government to clarify: "How did this PM CARES Fund come into being? Where did the money go? Why are there no audits or reports? Why were defective ventilators bought and distributed across the country?"

Opposition Walks Out

Rahul Gandhi's speech during the Lok Sabha debate caused major ripples. MPs from the Congress and INDIA alliance parties staged a walkout after expressing strong protests. The Prime Minister, despite being present in Parliament, chose not to respond to these serious allegations. Rahul Gandhi directly accused the government of creating a fund outside of scrutiny and using it for corruption.

The PM CARES Fund is not a Government Fund

The government itself has stated in the Delhi High Court that PM CARES is not a government fund. If that is so, how can government institutions and their employees contribute to it compulsorily? How is it used to procure equipment distributed through government hospitals? These are fundamental questions that the government must answer.

Time to Reflect and Respond

This is not the first time that the PM CARES Fund has faced criticism. However, this time, the concerns have reached Parliament and the people through a powerful voice. The government must abandon its arrogance and respond transparently. Democracy thrives only when the government is accountable to its people.

‘Theft from the Poor’: Rahul Gandhi Targets PM CARES Fund

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