MUMBAI: Former Aam Aadmi Party leader and social activist Mayank Gandhi claims to have turned into a "shameless beggar" in his bid to raise funds to help the drought-hit districts of Maharashtra.
The activist, who had been the face of AAP in the state and is currently associated with city-based public charitable trust Fulora Foundation, wrote in his blog today, "Have become a shameless beggar" when he agreed to attend private parties on the condition that he would be given money to help mitigate the drought crisis.
"A few days back, someone invited me for his daughter's birthday (I have not attending social functions since over a decade) - I agreed, provided he gave money for the drought. When an old friend invited me for dinner, I agreed, provided he donated. Have become a shameless beggar," Gandhi wrote in a blog post titled 'Shameless Begging'.
Gandhi, who is currently involved in water supply works in Beed, said he use to earlier "shy away from asking for anything - bhiksha or begging."
"This time when we started water supply in Beed, we had to ask donors for money. But I suddenly found that my diffidence for asking for money was gone. When people had doubts or questions regarding the integrity of the expense, my ego would have earlier raised its head and I would have felt hurt that people asked ME for justification."
"But, now I do not think that and I feel that it is our duty to be very transparent and accountable for every rupee that we get," he wrote in the post.