Union Minister for Rural Development Jairam Ramesh and Minister of State for Personnel Training V. Narayanasamy on Sunday came to the defence of Law Minister Salman Khurshid, who is facing allegations of embezzlement. Mr. Ramesh asserted that Mr. Khurshid would emerge from the confrontation with “honour and integrity” intact.
Senior Congress leader Digvijay Singh said social activist Arvind Kejriwal was looking to gain political space by making false allegations against the Trust Mr. Khurshid operated in Uttar Pradesh.
Mr. Ramesh’s defence came after the India Against Corruption (IAC) intensified its campaign for the Law Minister’s resignation alleging that Mr. Khurshid and his wife Louise were involved in cases of financial misappropriation and forgery in the Zakir Hussain Memorial Trust run by them.
“I am confident that my very good friend and colleague and one of the most decent human beings I have ever known will emerge from this wholly manufactured ordeal with honour and integrity intact,” Mr. Ramesh said in a statement.
Talking to journalists in Chennai, Mr. Narayanasamy charged Mr. Kejriwal with trying to “gain cheap popularity.”
“He [Kejriwal] does not know what is democracy, parliamentary procedures. He wants popularity and is using the media for this,” he said.
Mr. Narayanasamy said there were no irregularities in the Trust’s activities and maintained it was a private transaction where there was “no proof to show government support.” “Kejriwal is maligning people. He will feel the heat and learn a lesson,” Mr. Narayanasamy said.
Information and Broadcasting Minister Ambika Soni on Saturday called Mr. Khurshid “upright” and said the demand for his resignation was not fair.
