Bihar trust stole Kalam’s name, his Vision to ‘rob and cheat’

Patna, August 21 : Taking advantage of the popularity of A P J Abdul Kalam, a Bihar organisation named itself after the former President without his consent and allegedly collected huge amounts from over 700 people in East Champaran, West Champaran, Sitamarhi and Muzaffarpur after promising them scholarships, education, cultivation training and jobs under the Vision 2020 espoused by Kalam.

After The Indian Express made inquiries, Bagaha sub-divisional magistrate Anamul Haque cracked down on the ‘Dr Kalam Educational Foundation’ this afternoon, arresting seven persons and seizing cash, documents, letters, certificates and seals from its two-room office in Bagaha town.

A spokesperson for Kalam, speaking over phone from New Delhi, said “no permission has been given to anyone to use Dr Kalam’s name or form a trust in the former President’s name”.

Harishankar Singh, the ‘Foundation’ secretary, had earlier claimed the trust was registered in Motihari on April 4 this year after seeking permission from Kalam to “work towards realising his Vision 2020”. Singh also claimed to have informed the Bihar Chief Minister’s office about their “lofty goals”. But the CM’s office denied receiving any such letter.

He recently floated the “Kalam Foundation” along with some locals, including a Motihari lawyer O P Singh. Bidrohi, who was said to have gone to Hardwar, was not available for comments. O P Singh, legal advisor for the trust, was unable to explain how the trust was registered in the name of Kalam without his permission.

The trust established its network across East Champaran, West Champaran, Muzaffarpur and Sitamarhi by engaging over 250 workers from the district to panchayat level. It is alleged they would tell people that Kalam was their “guiding force” and they had “something for all”. Children were asked to fill up forms to get scholarships from the ‘Kalam Foundation’ after qualifying tests (that never took place). One form cost Rs 75.

It is alleged that the ‘Foundation’ workers promised over 700 people from four districts that they would be employed as Swasthya...