Bareilly: Unfazed by the notice sent by the
Election Commission, Law Minister Salman Khurshid on Wednesday maintained that he had not violated the model code of conduct.
"I have not violated the model code of conduct. I have a
right to put forth my view. It should reach the people," he
told reporters here today.
"It means that we should not bring out a manifesto, not
deliver a speech and sit back at home and elections should be
held without all these," he asked.
Khurshid said, "It`s a notice, not an order to shoot at
someone. Mulayam Singh spoke of 18 per cent and 28 per cent
quota. Ask him from where he will get 18 per cent quota. We
have implemented it at the Central level. If we come to power
in UP we will do so in the state as well".
"The Sachar Committee and the Ranganath Misra Commission
have recommended 8.5 per cent quota for Muslims. What is wrong
if I talk about nine per cent reservation for them," he said.
The Law Minister said that among the total population of
the country, 17 per cent to 18 per cent were Muslims against
which reservation of only 9 per cent was being being talked
about.
Khurshid said that religion-based census was being done,
on completion of which number of castes included in other
backward class list would become clear.
He said that in every state reservation would be given
to minorities from the quota of other backward classes in
ratio with their population.
Holding prima facie his promise of nine per cent
sub-quota for backward Muslims as a "serious violation" of the
Model Code of Conduct, the EC yesterday slapped a show-cause
notice on Khurshid, asking why action should not be taken
against him.
The EC notice capped a day of raging controversy over his
comments in Farrukhabad, where his wife Louise is contesting
as a Congress candidate for the Assembly polls, after which
BJP met the Chief Election Commissioner S Y Quraishi and
demanded action against him.
A show cause notice was separately served on Louise by
the Election authorities, asking her to explain why action
should not be taken against her.
The Law minister while campaigning in Farrukhabad had on
Sunday promised to the electorate that if Congress is voted to
power in the state it would enhance the sub-quota to Muslims
to 9 per cent within the 27 per cent quota for Other Backward
Classes (OBCs).
Khurshid said the manner in which notice is being issued
indicates that the Election Commission lack basic fundamentals
about the polls, Khurshid alleged while talking to reporters
here.
The minister also termed as "wrong" the Election
Commission`s order of covering the statues of BSP symbol and
its supremo.
On a question whether Rahul Gandhi could be the Chief
Minister of Uttar Pradesh, Khurshid said that there were other
posts as well.
He said that if Congress comes to power in the state then
CM would be of Rahul`s choice.
PTI
