How long at times a week can be in the life of a politicianis a question Law Minister, Salman Khurshid can answer best. The last one hasbeen tremendously long and torturously trying for the Congress leader. Stung bymedia, activist Arvind Kejriwal and a leaked CAG draft report all at the sametime, the suave politician found himself cornered and losing his cool at apress conference he had called himself.
Khurshid was in London when news channel Aaj Tak, a part ofTV Today Group, aired a story about how the Zakir Hussain Memorial Trust run bythe minister and his wife Louise was involved in cases of financialmisappropriation and forgery. The channel alleged that a Rs 71.5 lakh grantreceived by the Trust from the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment in2009-10 and intended for distributing equipment to differently-abled wasmisused on the basis of forged signatures of officers. Draft of a CAG reportleaked mysteriously to the media also confirmed bungling of funds in therunning of the Trust and sought report on utilization of funds.
India Against Corruption’s Kejriwal took to streets in Delhiprotesting against Khurshid and presented to the media more evidence ofbungling of funds in the running of the trust managed by Khurshid’s family. Hehad several handicapped persons listed in the Trust list of beneficiaries whoclaimed they never received any help from the Trust.
Once back in India, Khurshid hurriedly called a pressconference only to lose his cool while replying to allegations by mediapersons. Addressing an over 100-minute press conference, the law ministerengaged in a verbal duel with correspondents of the television group that ranthe news story. He defended himself saying that 34 camps were held at variousplaces in Uttar Pradesh where hearing aids and tricycles were given to thedifferently abled. He also produced pictures of the camps.
Khurshid's wife Louise, the project director of the NGO DrZakir Hussain Memorial Trust, lashed out at Kejriwal, terming the allegationsas baseless innuendos and accused him of “doing politics using the shoulders ofthe disabled”. Supporters of India Against Corruption staged a protest outsideKhurshid’s residence on Kushak Road.
Later in the week, Kejriwal announced he was calling off hisprotest against Khurshid in New Delhi and vowed to take the fight to the lawminister’s constituency, Farrukhabad in Uttar Pradesh, from November 1.
Even as the Economic Offences’ Wing of UP police conductedraids on 17 handicap welfare centres in 16 districts of the state on Monday tocross-check the claims made by the news channel about bungling of funds inrunning of the NGO, Kejriwal alleged that the UP government would not actagainst Khurshid as the union law minister, a move, he said, could influencethe probe into a disproportionate assets case against Samajwadi Party chiefMulayam Singh Yadav in the apex court. “Both will save each other,” Kejriwalsaid, referring to the coalition between the Congress and Samajwadi Party.
During all his tribulation, a not-so-benign help came forKhurshid from unexpected quarters. Trying to defend his colleague, Union SteelMinister Beni Prasad Verma put his foot in his mouth. Verma said a man likeKhurshid would not do any wrong for a mere Rs 71 lakh, which is a “very smallamount” for a Central Minister. He later said his statement had beenmisinterpreted.
Even as the Congress ruled out paying any heed to Kejriwal’sdemand for an independent probe, Salman and Louise Khurshid have taken an oathof media silence and maintained that they are not going to talk to the pressanymore.
The matter has yet to reach its logical end and theunfortunate but quick run of events makes it impossible to believe thatKhurshid only until last week was a respectable minister with an unblemishedpolitical record. Such is politics.
