Politics over Muslim
Quota: EC notice to Khurshid on BJP's complaint
Tuesday January 10, 2012 11:01:52 PM,
IANS
|
New Delhi: The
Election Commission Tuesday issued a notice to Law Minister Salman
Khurshid, whose promise to provide nine percent reservation to
backward Muslims in Uttar Pradesh, if the party won, triggered a
strong reaction from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) which asked
the poll panel to take action against him.
The Congress opted not to comment saying the poll panel was the
competent authority to deal with the matter.
The notice to Khurshid, returnable by 5 p.m. Thursday, came after
the BJP urged Chief Election Commissioner S.Y. Quraishi to take
action against Khurshid for violating the model code of conduct by
announcing a quota for Muslims if the Congress was voted to power
in Uttar Pradesh.
Khurshid, however, defended his remarks.
A BJP team, led by its vice president Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi, told
the Election Commission that the announcement by the union
minister was unconstitutional and violated the election code of
conduct.
The party said the move would lead to social conflict.
"He made the announcement in the constituency of his wife (Farrukhabad).
This will hamper free and fair elections in the state and it is
unconstitutional and violation of code of conduct. We demand
strict action against him and the Congress party," Naqvi told
reporters after the meeting.
Khurshid Monday announced in Farrukhabad, wife Louise Khurshid's
constituency, that a nine percent sub-quota for backward Muslims
within 27 percent reservation for other backward classes (OBCs)
would be provided in Uttar Pradesh if the Congress was voted to
power.
Naqvi said the BJP would "oppose the move to hurt the pride of
backwards".
"The Congress wants to take away the rights of OBCs by giving
religion based quota to minorities... This move will lead to
social conflict. We will oppose it on the streets and in
parliament."
He accused the Congress of trying to divert people's attention
from the issue of corruption to reservation and said the Samajwadi
Party (SP) and the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) are "part of the
criminal conspiracy to divide the people in poll bound UP (Uttar
Pradesh)".
Congress spokesman Rashid Alvi opted not to comment on BJP's
complaint.
"Election Commission is a constitutional body and we respect it.
The commission will give its decision," Alvi told IANS.
He, however, sought to defend Khurshid's remarks and said the
party could increase the sub quota for backward minorities within
the existing OBC quota in Uttar Pradesh in accordance with the
promises made in party manifesto for 2009 general elections.
"Whatever promises the party has made in 2009 manifesto regarding
minorities, it is the party's responsibility to fulfil it," Alvi
said.
Khurshid defended his announcement and said the government was
working according to the "set-up in the country".
"The government has worked according to the set-up in the country
that provides 27 percent reservation for people belonging to
backward classes of all religions," Khurshid told reporters.
"This very set-up on the recommendation of the Sachar Committee
has been implemented in all central government jobs," said
Khurshid.
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