Lucknow, Oct 27 (ANI): Anti-graft activist Arvind Kejriwal-led India Against Corruption (IAC) has been denied permission by Uttar Padesh's Housing Development department to hold a rally in Farrukhabad on Saturday.
Kejriwal and IAC activists had planned to hold a protest rally against Law Minister Salman Khurshid in Farrukhabad district of the province on November 01.
According to a sting operation by a television channel, which claimed that the Zakir Hussain Memorial Trust, headed by the Khurshid and run by his wife, had withdrawn funds meant for procuring equipment such as crutches and hearing aids, while not actually performing any of its intended function.
A close of Kejriwal, Sanjay Singh, informed mediapersons in Lucknow that they have been denied permission for the protest rally.
"We have never indulged in violence, scuffle or resorted to any violent method but still the government of Uttar Pradesh is not allowing us to hold rally in Farrukhabad and this clearly indicates that the state government is also hand in glove with the UPA government and they are trying to shield Khurshid. We have received information that permission is denied," said Singh.
As per latest media reports, IAC is trying to seek permission for another venue for their rally.
However, Singh said they would go ahead with the protest, even if the government sends them to jail.
"Rally will be held in Farrukhabad on November 01st, and if now the administration will resort to baton-charging or will send us to jail, we are not afraid of it," said Singh.
Across the length and breadth of this country, IAC activists had held protests against the federal government, voicing their demand for Khurshid's removal.
Singh alleged that the Uttar Pradesh government was shielding Khurshid by not giving them the permission to hold the rally.
India Against Corruption activists have been waging a yearlong battle against graft in the country, which till the other day had been mainly targeted against leaders of the ruling Congress party. (ANI)
