New Kerala

New Delhi, Apr 22 (IANS) : original

The main opposition Congress Thursday accused Civil Aviation Minister Rajiv Pratap Rudy of lying while detailing his assets in an affidavit filed with his nomination papers for the general election.

Congress spokesman Kapil Sibal told reporters here that Rudy had withheld details about the property owned by his wife, while declaring his assets in the affidavit.

Rudy, who is seeking re-election from Chapra Lok Sabha constituency in Bihar, had declared that his wife does not own any property.

"But she owns an apartment worth Rs 2.1 million in Gurgoan (a Delhi suburb)," Sibal claimed.

Sibal, who had earlier demanded the removal of Labour Minister Sahib Singh Verma on alleged corruption charges, said: "I will come out with the proof after Rudy reacts to my statement."

The Congress leader also alleged irregularities in the running of the US-based India Development and Relief Fund (IDRF), floated by the Hindu-nationalist Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS).

Sibal charged IDRF with diverting funds raised for rehabilitation of earthquake and cyclone victims for religious purposes.

"The IDRF diverted two million pounds (raised by its sister concern Sewa International), meant for constructing houses for Gujarat earthquake and Orissa cyclone victims, to construct a Saraswati Sishu Mandir and a Saraswati Vidya Mandir," he said.

Sibal demanded that the government order a probe to establish the fraud committed by the IDRF.