Corruption has been rewarded, says Arvind Kejriwal

By appointing Salman Khurshid as foreign minister and elevating him to the 'big four' in the cabinet, the Congress has clearly shown it won't succumb to the pressure tactics of anti-corruption activists or the Opposition.Cabinet reshuffle just an eyewash: Kejriwal

By appointing Salman Khurshid as external affairs minister and elevating him to the 'big four' in the cabinet, the Congress has clearly shown it won't succumb to the pressure tactics of anti-corruption activists or the Opposition.

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Activist-turned-politician Arvind Kejriwal - who on Sunday said corruption has been incentivised - had trained his guns on Khurshid after a sting by TV channel Aaj Tak alleging financial irregularities in the minister's family-run trust.

Kejriwal had alleged the Zakir Hussain Memorial Trust, run by Khurshid and his wife Louise, embezzled Rs. 71 lakh meant for the disabled.

India Against Corruption has threatened a protest in Khurshid's constituency Farrukhabad in UP on November 1.

Soon after the sting, the minister had found himself in more hot water over his comments, "I have been made law minister and asked to work with the pen. I will work with the pen, but also with blood", and "let them come to Farrukhabad. But let him also return from Farrukhabad".

Former external affairs minister, SM Krishna, gestures to his successor Salman Khurshid, to occupy the chair as Khurshid takes charge. AP

The remarks were interpreted as a threat to Kejriwal and the chorus for Khurshid's resignation got louder.

The Congress was quick to disapprove the remarks.

Earlier too, Khurshid had faced criticism from within the party for his statements - one of them earning him a censure from the election commission - during the Uttar Pradesh assembly polls.

But on Sunday, the party chose to stand by him.

"The corrupt are not just protected but also rewarded," Kejriwal tweeted.

"Salman was law minister and has been made foreign minister. Does that mean he has failed as law minister or that he did so well that he was made foreign minister? The country won't benefit from it."