Salman Khurshid’s ‘9% Muslim quota’ remark lands wife in spot

A BJP delegation headed by Mukhtar Abnbas Naqvi,MP,met Chief Election Commissioner S Y Quraishi and demanded action against Khurshid for making the promise at an election meeting in support of his wife,Louise,accusing him of violating the model code of conduct and the Constitution.

Naqvi said seeking votes in the name of religion was a violation of election laws.

However,Khurshid rejected charges against him claiming he was only referring to the party’s election manifesto while campaigning for Louise.

The minister hit back at BJP saying the party was following double standards because it uses as a poll plank the promise to construct a Ram temple.

Acting on the BJP’s complaint and taking cognisance of the Law Minister’s promise,the election authorities served a showcause to his wife,asking her to explain within three days the statements made by her husband while campaigning in her favour.

Farrukhabad District Electoral Officer Sachchidanand Dubey told PTI that “a showcause notice has been served on Louise Khurshid by the returning officer for Farrukhabad Assembly constituency Ashok Kumar Lal”.

The Congress party went on the defensive on the EC notice served on Khurshid’s wife over his quota remarks and said it respected the election body’s decision.

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).

Congress spokesman Rashid Alvi,who faced a volley of questions from the media over the showcause notice said the Election Commission is a Constitutional body and the party respected its decision.

He said,“If the Election Commission feels it was not the appropriate time to make the announcement (on Muslim quota),it is well within its authority. We do not comment on the EC’s orders. We also advise other parties not to comment on this.”

The Congress party in its manifesto for the 2009 Lok Sabha elections had promised to give reservation to backward Muslims and implement the Sachar Committee report and the Ranganath Mishra Committee report on minorities.

Naqvi said today: “The Congress is trying to create communal tension in Uttar Pradesh and the country by announcing an increase in the sub-quota for Muslims. The announcement made by the Law minister is in violation of the model code of conduct and is unconstitutional,he said.

“We will not allow anyone to snatch or grab the rights of the backward classes. BJP will not allow the Congress or BSP to play the caste card and try to divide the people on the basis of caste and religion.”

Khurshid rejected BJP’s charge saying such a scheme has already been implemented in Karnataka,Kerala and Andhra Pradesh.

“It means we should not bring out a manifesto,not deliver a speech and sit back at home and elections should be held without all these… They can talk of building a Ram temple and we are only referring to a provision which is already there,” Khurshid said.