Congress rejects demand for Khurshid's resignation

Backing Law Minister Salman Khurshid, Congress on Saturday rejected demands for his resignationand dismissed as "untruth" the charges of irregularities levelled against the Minister's NGO by Arvind Kejriwal. "Untruth cannot become the basis for crucifying anybody.Till court pronounces...everyone enjoys equal protection. Theyare innocent till proved guilty," Congress spokesman ManishTewari told reporters.

He was responding to a media query on whether the Congressfavoured action against the Law Minister. Khurshid has already knocked at the door of law and has already initiated certain civil proceedings and criminalproceedings are under contemplation, Tewari said.

Noting that reports of certain findings by the CAG againstthe NGO were found to be incorrect as there has been no CAG report on the issue, he said each and every allegation will besubject to judicial scrutiny. Tewari's remarks came as the war of attrition between Kejriwal and Khurshid escalated with the activist launching an indefinite protest demanding the Minister's resignation and arrest. Khurshid's wife Louise, the project director of the NGO Dr Zakir Hussain Memorial Trust, lashed out at Kejriwal,terming the allegations of "money bungling" as "baselessinnuendos" and accused him of "doing politics using theshoulders of the disabled". She also trashed speculation about her husband resigningover the issue, saying there is no reason why her husbandshould step down.

"There is no inquiry against Khurshid eitherby the central government or any report by the CAG. So whyshould he step down?" Louise said.