Former external affairs minister Salman Khurshid, who once called pime minister Narendra Modi ‘impotent’, is expected to have a rather tough time ahead as ministry of social justice & empowerment has asked for a CBI probe into the functioning of Zakir Hussain Memorial Trust, an NGO managed by Khurshid and his wife Lousie Khurshid.
While talking to Millennium Post on the sidelines of a press conference organised to spell out the 100 days’ achievements of the social justice ministry, union minister Thawar Chand Gehlot on Tuesday said, ‘There is an NGO in Uttar Pradesh which took aid in the name of the disabled but was involved in malpractices. We have referred the case to law department for their suggestions so that it can be forwarded to the CBI.’
On the question of whether this move can be seen as a political vendetta directed against Khurshid, the minister said, ‘When my ministry provides funds to NGOs for the development works related with this department, it’s very much our right and duty to inquire about the utilisation of financial aid from any NGO for the same. But, if some non-government organisation manages to get fund by fraudulent means, it’s our primary duty to investigate and punish the defaulter. There is no political vendetta against anyone. We have taken action against the NGO for just indulging in malpractices.’
On the question of delay in the recommendation, Gehlot said, ‘This should have happened earlier, but the Uttar Pradesh government wanted to probe the matter from their end first, so it got delayed,’ adding that the ministry is not going to spare anyone responsible for fudging funds meant to help physically and mentally challenged persons.
The Zakir Hussain Memorial Trust, a Delhi-based NGO, was founded on 30 October 1986 and commemorates the third President of India, late Zakir Hussain, the maternal grandfather of Khurshid.
While talking to Millennium Post on the sidelines of a press conference organised to spell out the 100 days’ achievements of the social justice ministry, union minister Thawar Chand Gehlot on Tuesday said, ‘There is an NGO in Uttar Pradesh which took aid in the name of the disabled but was involved in malpractices. We have referred the case to law department for their suggestions so that it can be forwarded to the CBI.’
On the question of whether this move can be seen as a political vendetta directed against Khurshid, the minister said, ‘When my ministry provides funds to NGOs for the development works related with this department, it’s very much our right and duty to inquire about the utilisation of financial aid from any NGO for the same. But, if some non-government organisation manages to get fund by fraudulent means, it’s our primary duty to investigate and punish the defaulter. There is no political vendetta against anyone. We have taken action against the NGO for just indulging in malpractices.’
On the question of delay in the recommendation, Gehlot said, ‘This should have happened earlier, but the Uttar Pradesh government wanted to probe the matter from their end first, so it got delayed,’ adding that the ministry is not going to spare anyone responsible for fudging funds meant to help physically and mentally challenged persons.
The Zakir Hussain Memorial Trust, a Delhi-based NGO, was founded on 30 October 1986 and commemorates the third President of India, late Zakir Hussain, the maternal grandfather of Khurshid.