Union Steel Minister Beni Prasad Verma on Monday sought to defend his colleague, saying Salman Khurshid would not do any wrong for Rs. 71 lakh, a “very small amount” for a Central Minister.
“Salman Khurshid is a responsible person. He is a Central Minister. He was a Central Minister earlier as well. When he is saying there is no scam, he should be believed... I don’t think a person like Khurshid will do anything for an amount like Rs. 71 lakh. It is a very small amount for a Central Minister,” Mr. Verma told reporters here.
He was commenting on the alleged misappropriation of funds by the Dr. Zakir Hussain Memorial Trust run by Mr. Khurshid and his wife. At a press conference on Sunday, the Law Minister rejected the allegation and offered himself to any probe.
“Had it been Rs. 71 crore, even I would have been serious,” Mr. Verma said, adding Khurshid should not resign.
Mr. Verma trained his guns on social activist Arvind Kejriwal, who has been demanding the resignation of Mr. Khurshid.
‘Don’t bark day in, day out ’
“Kejriwal is going to launch a party. I have all the best wishes for him. India has a multi-party system and one more will come. It’s good. But I have a piece of advice for him: Don’t bark day in, day out, try sometimes to roar like a tiger. Those who always bark are of no value,” Mr. Verma said.
