New Delhi: The Election Commission (EC) has censured Union Law Minister Salman Khurshid for his remarks on sub-quota for minorities. The Election Commission said it expects Khurshid not to repeat such violations of the model code in future.
Khurshid had made the remarks on January 10 in Farrukhabad of increasing the sub-quota for backward minorities while campaigning in Uttar Pradesh.
EC says Khurshid violated the model code of conduct by making promise of nine per cent sub-quota for minorities.
"The Commission hereby censures Shri Salman Khurshid and hopes and expects that such violations of the model code of conduct would not be repeated by him in future," said the EC order.
It said "Salman Khurshid has violated the model code of conduct by making the abovesaid promise. The Commission, therefore, cannot help expressing its deep anguish and disappointment over his violation of model code of conduct."
"As a Union Minister for Law and Minority Affairs, he has an added responsibility of ensuring that the model code of conduct is observed in letter and spirit so that elections are conducted in a free and fair manner and all political parties enjoy a level-playing field in the matter of their election campaigns", the EC said.
The Commission held that Khurshid was addressing the common people at public meetings as Union Minister and not as a Congress leader.
Setting aside the Congress plea in this regard, the EC said "the above contention is also not tenable for the reason that in the perception of common man, which is of paramount consideration, the respondent addressed them at public meetings as Union Minister for Law and Minority Affairs and not as mere leader of the Congress party."
The Commission said it "has come to the inescapable conclusion that the respondent, Shri Salman Khurshid, made a new promise to a distinct targeted group of the electorate among the minorities that 9 per cent seats would be reserved for them from out of the overall quota of 27 per cent for the other backward classes.
"The Commission is also satisfied that the above promise was made by Shri Salman Khurshid as Union Minister for Law and Minority Affairs. Thus, Shri Salman Khurshid has violated the model code of conduct by making the abovesaid promise. The Commission, therefore, cannot help expressing its deep anguish and disappointment over his violation of model code of conduct."
Khurshid was campaigning for his wife Louise who is contesting as a Congress candidate from there.
Khurshid also later told the Election Commission that he had only made a declaration of intent and not a policy announcement.
The notice was served after the BJP complained against him for allegedly violating the model code of conduct by making such promises to woo minority voters.
The Congress too later suggested that the announcement of nine per cent reservation to backward minorities by Law Minister Salman Khurshid was his personal view.
With Additional inputs from PTI
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