India Against Corruption (IAC) on Wednesday demanded the resignation of Union Law and Justice Minister Salman Khurshid and action against his wife, Louise Khurshid, after Aaj Tak television channel alleged financial irregularities in the functioning of the Zakir Hussain Memorial Trust run by the couple.
Ms. Khurshid, who is the trust’s Project Director, however, rejected the charges as “devoid of merit, false, malicious and baseless.”
The channel had alleged financial irregularities and misdemeanour in the disbursement of grants given to the trust by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment for the welfare of physically challenged people.
Ms. Khurshid said she herself requested the Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister on September 17 to conduct an inquiry so that truth was revealed and it was established that the Trust had not forged the signatures of any officer to avail itself of the benefit as was alleged. Social activist and IAC member Arvind Kejriwal said it was a “serious matter’’ and he, along with disabled persons, would gherao the residence of UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi seeking action.
Congress spokesperson Renuka Chowdhary said the Minister’s wife had issued a statement saying she herself had requested an inquiry into the matter to put it to rest.
