BJP affiliate asks Modi to refuse award from Gates foundation

Hyderabad: The Swadeshi Jagran Manch, an influential economic affiliate of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has asked Prime Minister Narendra Modi to refuse the award for his ambitious project –the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan — from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.

The organisation has a reason to ask Modi to reject the award. Co-convenor of the Manch Aswani Maharaj tweeted, “there are allegations that the Bill and Melinda foundation is doing business in the guise of charity (sic).” Hence, he requested Modi not to receive the award from the foundation.

Modi was conferred the award for his efforts to make India a clean nation through the Swachh Bharat program. He is to receive the award during his US visit.

Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation is a private organisation owned by billionaire philanthropist and Microsoft founder Bill Gates and his wife Melinda Gates. It works to help people lead healthy, productive lives. In developing countries, it focuses on improving people's health and giving them the chance to lift themselves out of hunger and extreme poverty.