Zeenews Bureau
New Delhi: Continuing his attack against Salman Khurshid, India Against Corruption (IAC) member Arvind Kejriwal asked the Union Law Minister to resign.
Addressing the supporters and media persons, the social activist turned politician Kejriwal said “If Salman Khurshid has even an iota of shame, he should tender his resignation.”
Kejriwal put forward five questions and asked Khurshid to give clarification. The UPA minister is scheduled to address a press conference and counter allegations levelled against him and his wife Louise.
Salman Khurshid and his wife have come under huge criticism after a sting operation done by news channel Aaj Tak reported that the Union Social Welfare and Empowerment Ministry had granted Rs 71.50 lakh to the Khurshids' NGO for distributing tricycles and hearing aids to the disabled in 17 districts of Uttar Pradesh.
The television channel has alleged financial misappropriation by the Khurshids in running the trust.
Saying that the allegations were made on the basis of a probe done by the Uttar Pradesh government, Kejriwal asked whether Khurshid would resign from politics if the charges are proved to be true.
"If disabled people did not benefit from the trust, then will he resign and give up politics," Kejriwal asked.
"He must announce his resignation today (Sunday)," Kejriwal said.
The activist quoted a report by the Akhilesh Yadav-led government in Uttar Pradesh and alleged that the NGO had forged the signature of Ram Raj Singh, an Uttar Pradesh government official, recommending grants for the NGO.
"Ram Raj Singh says he didn't sign papers for Khurshid's organisation. Singh had retired in January. How could he sign in March. Didn't Khurshid's organisation forge signatures of Ram Raj Singh," Kejriwal questioned.
He also alleged that the signature of another official, JB Singh, was forged in an affidavit saying the NGO has done good work.
"Do you accept that your trust forged an affidavit of JB Singh," Kejriwal asked.
The anti-corruption activist also questioned whether the probe's report was wrong and if Khurshid agreed with the allegations.
"A show-cause notice was sent to Louise Khurshid July 3 to explain all of this. No response has been sent so far," Kejriwal said.
"We want to ask if the Uttar Pradesh government's report is fake. If it is fake, action should be taken against Akhilesh Yadav," he said.
He also said that the Uttar Pradesh government may try to bring another report suppressing the facts.
Amid protests by IAC, Khurshid today morning returned to the national capital from London and said he will fight back the allegations that his NGO siphoned off money meant for disabled with sufficient proof.
The Union Minister faced protests at IGI airport here this morning. Hundreds of IAC members were seen protesting against the Khurshid with black flags and posters at different gates of the airport and shouting slogans ‘Salman Khurshid chor hai’.
However, before the IAC members could ‘gherao’ Khurshid, the officials whisked the UPA minister in a white ambassador car.
Khurshid denied the allegations levelled by a TV channel and Kejriwal's IAC that the Zakir Hussain Memorial Trust owned by him and his wife Louise was involved in cases of financial misappropriation and forgery.
"I will fight back the allegations with sufficient proof," he told reporters on arrival.
The Congress minister is facing allegations of alleged financial irregularities in his NGO, which is headed by his wife Louise Khurshid.
With IANS inputs
First Published: Sunday, October 14, 2012, 09:12