Journalism of Courage
A day after the opposition BJP petitioned the Election Commission against the alleged violation of the model code of conduct by Union Steel Minister Beni Prasad Verma for his Muslim sub-quota remarks,the poll panel on Saturday issued a notice to the Congress leader demanding his explanation by Monday evening.
While addressing a poll rally on Wednesday night in Farukkabad in the presence of Congress general secretary Digvijaya Singh and Law Minister Salman Khurshid,Verma had said,Reservation for Muslims will be increased and if the EC wants,it can now issue a notice to me.
In its notice,the poll panel said,(Election Commission) is prima facie satisfied that Shri Beni Prasad Verma … has violated the aforesaid provisions of the model code of conduct. It is evident that he was well aware that by making such utterances,he was violating the model code of conduct and yet he deliberately and willfully did the same.
It said if Verma failed to reply by Monday evening,the Commission will decide the matter without any further reference to him.
Hours later,Verma sought to make course correction. He reportedly said in Lucknow: I have been addressing four to five rallies every day and sometimes I fail to pay attention that in which reference I am saying something. I have huge respect for the Election Commission.
Verma is the second Union minister after Khurshid who has been issued notice from EC for poll code violation over the sub-quota remarks.
The Congress on Saturday appeared to distance itself from Vermas earlier remarks. If Verma has been given notice by the EC,he will reply to it. As far as decorum is concerned,Congress always believes that constitutional bodies should be given respect, party spokesman Manish Tewari told reporters.
He said party general secretary Janardan Dwivedi has already said that the dignity of these bodies should be respected by all partymen.
