M A I N   N E W S

Khurshid talks tough, denies fund bungling by his NGO
Shows documents to defend Trust’s activities, says won’t resign
KV Prasad/TNS

New Delhi, October 14
Strongly defending the activities of the Zakir Hussain Memorial Trust, a non-governmental organisation he is associated with, Union Law Minister Salman Khurshid today showed documents and photographs to counter allegations that government funds meant to provide aid and material to the differently abled persons were bungled.

The allegation

Rs 71.5- lakh grant received by the Trust from the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment — intended for distributing equipment to differently abled — was misused

The defence

34 camps were held at various places in Uttar Pradesh where hearing aids and tricycles were given to the differently abled

While stating that the Trust has asked the Uttar Pradesh Government to conduct a probe, the minister indicated he had no intention to resign and left it to the party high command to ultimately take a call on the issue.

Hours after his return from London, Khurshid flanked by his wife Louise, a project director of the Trust, insisted that the defamation case filed in the Delhi High Court against the TV Today Group, would be filed in courts in UP and in England too, since the Channel’s story was visible there.

The news channel ran reports alleging that Rs 71.5- lakh grant received by the Trust from the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment between 2009-10 - intended for distributing equipment to differently abled - was misused on the basis of forged signatures of officers. Even the CAG had sought report on utilisation of funds, claimed reports.

Addressing an over 100-minute press conference, the Law Minister turned testy at times engaging in a verbal duel with correspondents of the television group that ran the news story.

The thrust of the defence was that 34 camps were held at various places in Uttar Pradesh where hearing aids and tricycles were given to the differently abled.

Besides waving sheaf of papers with list of beneficiaries and people who coordinated them at various places, the Khurshids even presented before the media one beneficiary Rangi Mistry from Farrukhabad who claimed he had received a hearing-aid two years ago, contradicting his statement given to the news channel.

“Nothing on Rs 71 lakh can be proved... Not a word can be proved. They can scream, scream and scream till they turn blue in their face,” the Law Minister said.

He said the Uttar Pradesh Government was already probing whether an affidavit signed by a state government official JB Singh carried forged signatures as has been alleged

Interestingly, Khurshid did not respond to charges levelled by anti-corruption activist Arvind Kejriwal but mockingly pointed out that while his Trust could afford to distribute only mechanical tricycles, the one funded by an international foundation dispenses motorised tricycles. On his part, Kejriwal threatened to make more disclosure tomorrow.

As for the draft CAG report, the minister said the Trust response will be made available, claiming that besides Rs 71.50-lakh grant, Rs 6.37 lakh collected through donations were also disbursed.