NEW DELHI: The war of attrition between out- gone Minister of Minority Affairs K Rehman Khan and Mohammad Wazir Ansari over the post of secretary of the Maulana Azad Education Foundation (MAEF) has brought the activities of Foundation virtually to standstill. Since the Ansari was removed from the post of secretary in the thick of elections on May1, the Foundation has become rudderless which is frontline organization of the Minority Ministry.
However, Rehman Khan strongly refuted the charge that Ansari was summarily “sacked” saying in-spite of committing serious ‘procedural lapses’, he has been ‘repatriated to his earlier post. While sources close to Ansari said he was made ‘sacrificial lamb’ for the alter ego of the minister. After Ansari’s removal, the Foundation’s additional charge was given to DS Bist, who is managing director of National Minorities Financial Development Corporation on 3 May. Days later a MoMA officer, MA Imam, was appointed in this post on 15 May. Imam too was removed within two days and the charge was given to Ali Ahmad Khan who is secretary of Central Waqf Council.
Giving a graphic account that led to removal of Ansari from the post of secretary, Rehman Khan, who was happened to be president of MAEF, told the Muslim Mirror that the decision was taken in the Governing Body of Foundation to relieve him from office after he was found “guilty” of serious financial irregularities. “We have appointed a sub-committee to look into the allegations of financial indiscipline and the expenditure Rs 64 lakh incurred by the Foundation for the repair and renovation for MAEF campus that found him guilty”. He further said whatever the reply and documents submitted to the Sub-committee and explanations personally given by the Secretary (Ansari) made it clear that he did not follow a single legally required procedure while undertaking the repair and renovation work of the MAEF campus. The Ministry has asked the public sector company National Buildings Construction Corporation (NBCC) to evaluate the work carried out by the Secretary in March this year. The report of the NBCC submitted to the Ministry stated that “10-15% more costs having being incurred on the project” in its theoretical assessed amount. For example, the MAEF repaired the Rest House through contractor spending Rs 4, 09, 580 while NBCC puts its theoretical assessed amount mere Rs 90,781. On roof, veranda and boundary wall (inside) generator shade etc, the MAEF spent Rs.6, 05,116, while NBCC assessed amount is Rs.3, 26,729. Ansari was also accused of self-withdrawing the money and keeping the cash with him.
How can he self-withdraw the money and insists that it is his own ways of carrying work, the minister asked. Casting doubt on his (Ansari) competence, Rehman Khan said he did not live up to the expectations. The Foundation has 12 objectives but except distributing scholarships and grant to construction of hostel and school building, he failed to expand the activities of the Foundation, he added. When asked you wanted to do a favour for certain NGOs and an individual but the secretary refused to oblige? , he said it is absurd and baseless allegation. “If the secretary has any such file that I recommended for grant , then he showed to the world, I will be happy for this”, adding that I asked him (Ansari) to digitize all the records and whole process of all schemes for brining transparency but he failed to do that, Rehman Khan. In reply to another question that the ministry wanted to give contract to NBCC for constructing a signature building, he said it was a proposal as the Foundation building is situated at a prime location and the proposed building will fetch huge income to the Foundation. He also mentioned that Foundation has a corpus fund of Rs. 910 crore, but it cannot be invested other than the public sector banks. “Because of this rider, we cannot put the money in private banks or other ventures that is causing losses to the tune of Rs1.5 crore per month to the Foundation, he said.
However, despite removal from the post, Ansari is determined to stick his ground. Sources close to him said that he has sent a detail missive to the then minister pointing fallacies and inaccuracies in the charges leveled against him. Sources said Ansari has defended his case forcefully saying “the total amount withdrawn in case as mentioned in the minutes is Rs. 64 lakh which is factually incorrect, because the fact is that this includes the amount of Rs. 10.00 lakh spent on repairs through contractors by following due procedure. Withdrawal of Rs. 5.00 lakh each time as mentioned in the minutes is also factually incorrect as I have never withdrawn Rs. 5.00 at one time”.
The copy of the letter sent to the Minister in the possession of the Muslim Mirror refuted the charge of self-withdrawing of cash. It further said “Initially, I had withdrawn advance of Rs. 1.50 lakh for fencing work and thereafter advance was withdrawn on need basis as and when required and submitted the bill for repairs and renovation work from time to time against those advances”.
Defending the work carried out by him, the letter said the NBCC report did not indict any malpractices, “The whole report of NBCC is very much clear but it appears that no one has gone through this report minutely except the last para where they have mentioned about percentage of likely variation on theoretical assessment which means they had not conducted physical assessment of the work. They have mentioned that the building is very old and its repair is not like repairs in modern buildings. Hence paras 3 to 8 the said report should be read carefully to understand the gist of the report”. It further said, “It is worthy to note that NBCC is a leading civil construction company has given “Theoretically Assessed Report” which is not realistic and practical and where other factors such as profit margin of contractors/builders etc have not been added to it, otherwise the cost would have been escalated manifolds”.
While Ansari admitted that he did not follow the due procedure in carrying out the repair work but he gave explanation for this saying, “The only thing which I am lacking is “following due procedure” and that too because of the special nature of the repair work and shortage of time. Just because of the fencing, repair & renovation works carried out by the undersigned this portion was made habitable within the shortest possible time and kept the entire premises under the possession of MAEF. Otherwise both the Ministries were not having interest even to carry out partition work. The entire work has been done in full view and in the best interest of MAEF. It is only due to efforts of MAEF, this campus is now famous as Maulana Azad Campus”.
Sources also pointed out that the Governing Body of MAEF at its 86 meeting held on December 3,2013 has approved the expenditure of Rs.34 lakh and authorized the Secretary, MAEF to carry out the remaining repair/renovation works at the earliest i.e., by the end of December, 2013 as directed by the Ministry.
After the change in government at the Center and Dr Najma Heputlla taking the charge of the Ministry, it has to be seen what decision she takes in this regard.