After much dilly-dally the district administration of Farrukhabad, the Lok Sabha constituency of the Union law minister Salman Khurshid, gave permission to India Against Corruption (IAC) to hold rally there on November 1 to protest alleged misappropriation of funds in Zakir Hussain Memorial Trust headed by him and his wife Louise Khurshid.
The administration had earlier refused to grant permission on the ground of law and order problem as they apprehended a clash between the supporters of Khurshid and anti-graft activist Arvind Kejriwal.
The IAC activists had embarked on a dharna in front of city magistrate’s office on Saturday to protest against denial of permission. The members had declared to go ahead with the rally even without the permission.
“Our programme stands. We will go to Farrukhabad. Let police do lathicharge,” IAC activist Sanjay Singh had said earlier. The officials however relented after the dharna and allowed IAC to hold the rally on Awas-Vikas grounds in the town.
IAC claimed to have ‘solid’ evidence to prove its charges of large-scale irregularities in the distribution of appliances to disabled people in various parts of the state by the trust.
“We have certified list of the beneficiaries in the camps organised by the trust in 17 districts in UP during 2009-2010. We will produce the list in the rally,” Singh said.
Kejriwal-led group members said UP government must ensure that the activist gets full extended protection. “The state and the central government will be responsible if anything happens to Kejriwal,” an activist said.
Union law minister had earlier reportedly dared the activist-turned-politician to hold a protest rally in Farrukhabad.
Khurshid’s trust, according to sources, had received Rs 70 lakh under the ADIP scheme in 2009-2010.
The funds were alloted for the artificial limbs and appliances for the disabled persons.
Anti-corruption activist had demanded his resignation following charges of funds misuse.
Both the minister and his wife have denied the allegations.
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