Just a day after Union Minister Salman Khurshid threatened activists of India Against Corruption (IAC), they were allegedly manhandled in Farrukhabad as they conducted a survey on allegations of financial irregularities in a trust run by Khurshid.

Members of the IAC led by Laxman Singh, and Delhi based journalist Abhinandan Mishra, were pelted with stones as they returned from the native place of Khurshid, who represents the Farrukhabad Lok Sabha constituency of UP.

Earlier Khurshid challenged Arvind Kejriwal daring him to protest in his constituency.

Police officials have been informed about the incident and the additional Superintendent of Police said he has asked the journalist and victimised IAC members to file a written complaint after which the incident will be investigated and necessary action taken.

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Union law minister Salman Khurshid is at loggerheads with Arvind Kejriwal and his India Against Corruption (IAC) activists who say they plan to protest against the minister in his constituency Farrukhabad, over the functioning of the Zakir Hussain Memorial Trust that is run by Khurshid and his wife Louise. Khurshid was shown on TV threatening Kejriwal of the IAC, saying 'let him come but will he be able to return from Farrukhabad'!

Refusing to bow to the threats the IAC say they will go ahead with their protest in Farrukhabad. They have also sought the intervention of the Prime Minister and the President.

This whole issue comes on the heels of Arvind Kejriwal's accusations that BJP president Nitin Gadkari received personal favours by getting some 100 acres of agricultural land in Maharashtra after the Congress-NCP government there bent the rules, and formed a cosy relationship to loot the country even though, on the face of it, they raise issues against one another. Kejriwal also alleged the former irrigation minister gave land to Gadkari that should have been returned to the farmers.

Making a clearer stand Kejriwal claimed Gadkari is not a politician, he is just using the BJP to increase his business interests, that are detrimental to the interests of farmers.

Kejriwal also threw Robert Vadra into the mix accusing him of looting farmers land in Haryana.

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Union Minister of Steel, Beni Prasad Verma, who is infamous for his indiscretions, rubbished allegations against Law Minister Salman Khurshid's NGO saying Rs.71 lakhs is peanuts, too small an amount for a Union Cabinet member to take seriously.

Verma later backpedalled by saying his remark had been distorted, then echoed US Republican VP contender Paul Ryan's words "sometimes words don't come out of your mouth the right way" in defence of Romey's remark that 47% of Americans lived off the state.

Congress responded by saying it did not agree with the steel minister and that regardless of the amount, misappropriation is misappropriation. The other parties also had a field day with Verma's faux pas, calling him 'poor Beni baby!'. Verma then changed his tune and agreed that 'corruption is corruption even if it's for a rupee'.

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Gujarat Congress MP Vithhal Radadiya brandished his gun at a tollbooth while he was travelling is his private car with his driver, bodyguard and others. He also threatened the toll collector creating a ruckus that led to a traffic jam on the highway.

The toll booth manager registered a police complaint and police have begun investigating the case, to confirm whether the person who threatened the toll booth employee was actually Radadiya.

CCTV images confirmed the man did brandish a weapon and threatened the employee. Radadiya is to be arrested and an FIR has been registered against him.

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Relegating words like 'His Excellency' to history, President Pranab Mukherjee has approved a new set of protocol to be used in greetings, invitations and addressing VIPs in the country.

While 'honourable' will stay as a term of reference for the President and governors, 'His Excellency' has been turfed out. Besides, Mukherjee has also directed authorities to organize government functions for him within the Rashtrapati Bhavan premises in order to reduce the burden on police and the inconvenience caused to people.

The President's office said, "Use of the words 'His Excellency' will be discontinued while organizing functions within the country and during interaction between Indian dignitaries and the President. In Hindi, 'Rashtrapati Mahoday' should be used in place of 'Mahamahim' during such occasions."

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