Union law minister Salman Khurshid is all set to appear before the full panel of the Election Commission (EC) on January 20 at 4.30 pm to explain his view on his remarks regarding reservation to minorities. He may appear in person or may present his views through his counsel. This is the first instance of a Union law minister appearing before the Election Commission for alleged violation of model code of conduct.
According to sources, it was Mr Khurshid, who contacted the EC and sought a hearing to present his views on the controversy surrounding his announcement concerning reservation for minorities in government jobs and educational institutions.
The EC had issued a showcause notice to Mr Khurshid for having declared that his party would provide nine per cent reservation to minorities from the existing 27 per cent reservation meant for OBCs should it return to power in UP. He had made the announcement while campaigning for his wife Louise Khurshid in Farrukhabad. Taking cognisance of the complaint lodged by the BJP over the issue, the EC issued a showcause notice to him and also directed the Union government not to implement the quota in states that go to the polls.
Mr Khurshid and his party have been maintaining that his announcement did not constitute a violation of model code as he was only reiterating what was already mentioned in the election manifesto of the party in the run-up to the 2009 Lok Sabha polls. A Congress delegation led by general secretary Digvijay Singh and Abhishek Singhvi even met the poll panel to convey the party’s objection to the notice issued to the law minister. They also submitted that the announcement for reservation for minorities figured in the manifesto of which Mr Khurshid is the chairman.
“We have given very strong points in view of the notice given to Salman Khurshid,” said Mr Singhvi after the meeting.