The IAC leader alleges cover-up deal between U.P. government, Khurshid
Alleging that Union Law Minister Salman Khurshid’s “lie has been exposed” through the same evidence he put forward to counter charges of financial irregularities in the Trust run by him and his wife Louise, anti-corruption activist Arvind Kejriwal here on Sunday raised a suspicion that a deal had now been struck with the Samajwadi-Party-led Uttar Pradesh government for a cover-up.
“Mr. Khurshid’s bluff has been called. The photograph presented by him at the press conference today [Sunday], which shows that Chief Development Officer J.B. Singh was present at a camp for distribution of aid among the physically challenged, itself exposes, through a banner therein, that the camp was organised in July 2010. It means that the camp was held during the financial year 2010-11 and not in the year 2009-10 as has been claimed,” said Mr. Kejriwal.
The India Against Corruption leader said that while an affidavit purported to have been given by Mr. J.B. Singh (on September 27) praising the work of the Dr. Zakir Hussain Memorial Trust — run by the Law Minister and his wife — had been produced as a defence, Mr. J.B. Singh had categorically denied having given such an affidavit and described it as “forged.” The affidavit states that the signature on the test checklist for 2009-10 for two camps organised by the Trust was of Mr. J.B. Singh.
“On behalf of the physically challenged and the general public, we had sought answers to five questions from Mr. Khurshid, but he refused to reply stating that he would not entertain the questions raised by those on the streets. At the press conference, he brought forth only one beneficiary of the camps organised by the Trust. We will come up with evidence to counter the claims at 11 a.m. on Monday,” said the former Indian Revenue Service officer.
The IAC, which has raised the issue in coordination with the Rashtriya Viklang Party, said Mr. Khurshid’s Trust had forwarded a letter to the Centre, purportedly written by the Uttar Pradesh government expressing satisfaction over the work done by the Trust in 2009-10 and recommending further release of funds. “The letter dated March 24, 2011, bore signature of the then Special Secretary Ramraj Singh Yadav, but according to media reports, Mr. [Ramraj] Singh has said it was not his signature. He also pointed out that the letter had purportedly been issued on March 24, 2001, whereas he had retired in January that year,” said Mr. Kejriwal.
Stating that allegations against the Trust were not being made by IAC, but were the findings of the U.P. government, Mr. Kejriwal quoted a letter, dated June 12, 2012 to the Union Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, in which the Special Secretary to the U.P. government submitted a report allegedly citing serious irregularities against the Trust.
“The letter noted that as regards the funds received by the Trust from the Social Justice and Empowerment Ministry in 2009-2010, signature of various officials in the Trust check reports on camps organised in 10 of the 17 districts were found forged,” said Mr. Kejriwal. The letter purportedly identified cases in which signatures of officials were forged, the department mentioned did not exist, or seals and signatures were forged. The letter also purportedly mentioned that on comparison, there was a mismatch between the signature of Ramraj Singh Yadav and that seen on a letter said to have been written by him.
Pointing out that the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment had in June sought a clarification from the Trust on the issue within 15 days of the receipt of the letter, Mr. Kejriwal alleged that the Trust had not yet sent a proper clarification.
The IAC leader said Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav was now saying that the investigations were under way and alleged that the issue had probably been “settled between both [Mr. Yadav and Mr. Khurshid]”.
IAC members Manish Sisodia, Sanjay Singh, Gopal Rai and Kumar Vishwas and their supporters are on a dharna on Parliament Street demanding the resignation and arrest of the Union Law Minister along with his wife. Earlier on Saturday, they took out a march at Connaught Place and their supporters held a protest outside Mr. Khurshid’s residence, following which they were detained.
Dear Vichi,
Truth always hurts when it is told.This is a bitter pill.If the minister is on the right side, let him take Kejriwal to the courts
India need a revolution, even if creates chaos in country, this will be
for goodness of our future, otherwise same will continue indefinitely
and we will wait for any avatar
I am not sure if Arvind Kejariwal is doing service or dis-service to the nation ?
He has decided to go against ministers only because it provides more publicity.
Can he go after other NGOs who do good work but do some book keeping
mistakes like by the minister ?
I also think chaos created by Arvind is hurting the country and sending millions of
people into poverty. Yes, there are others in ministry who are hurting the system
and we supported Kejariwal in his fight against exposing them. But his last two
attempts of maligning image of PM and now of law-minister for his own publicity
does not seem rational. I hope he comes back to Anna and restart doing good
work of lokpal for benefit of masses.
If the medical camps were really held on that date, there would have been some publicity about the same in the local press and some news report the next day in the local dailies. In all some photographs taken on the occasion would also bave been published in the newspapers. Hence, the genuineness of Mr. Kurshid's claim can be ascertained by scanning the local dailies for a week before and after the date on which Mr. Kurshid claims the medical camp was held.
Kejriwal's attacks upon the honour and reputation of persons
have entitled them to avail their"right to the protection of Law
against such attacks",as per Art.12 of UN's "Universal
Declaration of Human Rights"!
Kejriwal's allegation against citizens and criminal charges
againstthem, run counter to the letter and spirit of Art. 10 of
the Declaration."Every one is entitled in full equality to a fair
and public hearing by an independent and impartial tribunal,in
the determination of his "rights and obligations and of any
criminal charges against him")Art.10ibid).
The allegations made by Mr. Kejriwal are very serious and I think that these need to be investigated by an independent authority and appropriate punishment meted out if found true. The Congress Party would be wise to ask the minister to step down from his office till the investigations are complete and he is given a clean chit.
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