New Delhi: The Election Commission has granted two more days to Union minister Sriprakash Jaiswal to reply to its notice on his comments on imposition of President`s Rule in Uttar Pradesh, which it held prima facie a violation of the Model Code of Conduct.
The Commission had on February 24 slapped a show cause notice on Jaiswal, Coal Minister, asking why action should not be initiated against him for his President`s Rule remarks made during campaigning in Uttar Pradesh.
Jaiswal was to reply to the EC notice by February 27 but has been allowed to file his reply by February 29 after he sought two more days time to enable him to explain his stand on the matter in detail. "I have received the Election Commission notice. I am a law-abiding citizen of a law-abiding party. The Election Commission will be sent a reply within time and I hope it (takes note) that I had not given any wrong statement... because the question has not been shown and only my reply has been. Thus, an illusion has been created. Tomorrow is the last date for replying (to EC notice) and I will reply by tomorrow," Jaswal told reporters here today.
The EC action came in the wake of complaints received by it from BJP and Samajwadi Party, charging Jaiswal with violating the Model Code and for allegedly threatening the voters of Uttar Pradesh. Jaiswal had, after casting his vote in Kanpur in the 5th phase of polling yesterday, said "if Congress gets majority, then it will form the government... In case we don`t get clear majority, we sit in the opposition and I see no alternative but Governor`s rule."
PTI