Karnal trust serves legal notice on Dalal, seeks public apology

Tribune News Service

Karnal, May 24

The Karnal Vikas Nidhi (KVN) has served a legal notice on Congress leader and Palwal MLA Karan Singh Dalal to tender public apology within seven days or face legal action for defaming the organisation.

The KVN, a trust, was established on the call of Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar for development of the city and Dalal had demanded an inquiry into the formation of the trust and collection of funds last week. He had also alleged that the trust was run by a person who claimed to be a close relative of the CM and raised questions over the involvement of the Deputy Commissioner in it.

Talking to mediapesons here today, Pankaj Bharti, managing trustee, KVN, said the allegations were baseless and politically motivated. “Dalal should be ready to face legal action if he does not take his words back within seven days,” he said.

“It is a registered trust and working for the past one year for development of the district. Dalal should have verified the facts before levelling the allegations,” he said.

He said the trust had collected Rs 1.21 crore from residents through cheques and drafts and details were available on the website.

It had constructed 22 e-toilets in 19 government schools, giving relief to 6,067 students, he said, adding that it had also roped in Magic Bus, an NGO, for 21 government schools for skill development of nearly 3,000 students.

On the appeal of the CM, 14 private schools had adopted 20 government schools for their overall development, he said, adding that it had also planted 566 sapling and erected tree guards to protect them for beautification of the city.

“We are planning to launch two mobile medical vans in August for providing medical assistance to people in the remote areas,” he said.

Bharti said that the DC was involved in the trust for transparency.

Refuting the charges of being close relative of the CM, Dr Satish Khattar, another managing trustee, said: “I am not a relative of the CM, but we were classmates in school.”

“We are contributing to the development of the district on our own and there should be no problem to anybody,” said Brij Gupta, a member of the governing council of the KVN.

Chander Parkash Kathuria, another member of the governing council, said that Karnal was neglected for a long and there should be no politics on the development done by residents.