Now,Beni defies EC,Trinamool attacks him

Minister says quota for Muslims will be increased if Cong wins

Even as the Election Commission sought to end the controversy over Law Minister Salman Khurshids remarks on 9 per cent sub-quota for backward class minorities,Union Steel Minister Beni Prasad Verma has defied the poll panel and dared it to take action against him as he maintained that quota for Muslims would be increased if the Congress wins the polls.

Addressing a rally in Farrukhabad last night,Verma said: Reservation for Muslims will be increased and if the EC wants,it can now issue notice to me. Khurshid and Congress general secretary Digvijaya Singh were present at the rally. Supporting Khurshid,Verma said he was honestly fighting for the Muslims. Taking note of his remarks,the poll panel has directed the chief electoral officer of UP to provide a copy of his recorded speech.

Meanwhile,the Trinamool Congress joined the Oppositions attack on Verma with party MP and Union Minister of State for Tourism Sultan Ahmed complaining to the Election Commission against the alleged violation of the model code of conduct and demanding that Verma be debarred from further campaigning in Uttar Pradesh.

It is surprising. First it was Salman Khurshid,who said 9 per cent reservation would be given to Muslims even as there was no such decision at the government level. Now it is Beni Prasad. They think that Muslims will bite this bait. If the government is serious about giving any such thing to Muslims,it should announce it at the government level, said Ahmed. He added that Prime Minister Manmohan Singh should clear the air about Muslim reservation.

The Congress,however,issued a statement distancing itself from Vermas remark. Earlier,the party had maintained that the model code did not have statutory status.

Respect EC: Sonis subtle reminder

With Beni Prasad Verma becoming its second minister to dare the EC on sub-quota issue,the UPA government on Thursday sought to send a subtle message to its ministers,with Information amp; Broadcasting Minister Ambika Soni reminding them of the Congresss stance on this issue.

Soni said,I have not heard what exactly Beni Prasad Verma has said but I did hear Congress general secretary Janardan Dwivedi saying the party expects every person to speak within limits and give respect to a Constitutional body. That applies to me,Salman,Beni and all of us. Congress media department chairman Janardan Dwivedi had said,Congress always wants that all Congressmen should speak as per the norms of public life and the law of the land.