New Delhi: The BJP on Friday condemned Union
minister Salman Khurshid for standing by his comments on nine
per cent reservation within OBC quota for minorities despite
Election Commission's directive and alleged that Congress
believes in undermining constitutional bodies.
"Khurshid has attacked the Election Commission on the
reservation for minorities issue. We condemn this. Congress
and the UPA government believe in undermining and attacking
constitutional institutions. The Election Commission is a
symbol of democracy and to attack it is unacceptable," BJP
General Secretary Ananth Kumar told reporters.
The BJP had complained to the Election Commission about
Khurshid's comments at a rally in Farrukhabad that Congress
will give nine per cent reservation to minorities within the
OBC quota. Soon thereafter, the poll panel had asked the
government to put on hold its decision of providing 4.5 per
cent quota within quota to the minorities.
However, Khurshid remained unfazed by this EC directive
and justified today his comments on nine per cent reservation
to the minorities.
Chief Election Commissioner SY Quraishi has written a
letter to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on the issue
reportedly expressing his displeasure over Khurshid's stand.
PTI
First Published: Friday, January 13, 2012, 22:05