New Delhi:
Law Minister Salman Khurshid finds himself in trouble over a recent speech that promised a nine per cent sub-quota for backward Muslims in Uttar Pradesh. The minister's wife, Louise Khurshid, who is contesting elections as the Congress candidate from Farrukhabad, has been served a show-cause notice on orders of the Election Commission for violating the model code of conduct. Another notice has been issued to Mr Khurshid.
Here's the full text of the Election Commission notice to the Union Law Minister:
Whereas, the Election Commission has announced the General Elections to the Legislative Assemblies of five States, including the State of Uttar Pradesh, vide its Press Note dated 24th December, 2011; and
Whereas, the Model Code of Conduct came into force with immediate effect as mentioned in the said Press Note and also intimated to the Union Cabinet Secretary and the State Chief Secretary vide the Commission's letter No. 437/6/1/2011-CC&BE (Vol. III) dated 24th December, 2011; and
Whereas, the Commission received on 10th January, 2012, a complaint from the BJP (copy enclosed) that the newspapers of 10th January, 2012 carried a report that Shri Salman Khurshid, Union Law Minister, has made an announcement at an election rally at Farrukhabad to the effect that the Congress would provide a quota of 9% reservation to the minorities within the existing quota of 27% for OBCs and that he has also indicated that Muslims will be benefited from this move; and
Whereas, it is alleged that the above announcements by the Union Law Minister amounts to serious violation of Model Code of Conduct, as the Uttar Pradesh is having a sizeable population of the minorities, specially Muslims, who are directly targeted by the Congress Party; and
Whereas, the BJP has also mentioned that this direct appeal on religious, caste and communal basis is a direct and blatant violation of the Model Code of Conduct; and
Whereas, it is laid down in the "Model Code of Conduct for the Guidance of Political Parties and Candidates" that
"Para 1(3): There shall be no appeal to caste or communal feelings for securing votes. ......
Para VII: "The Party in power whether at the Centre or in the State or States concerned, shall ensure that no cause is given for any complaint that it has used its official position for the purposes of its election campaign
Para VII (vi): From the time elections are announced by the Commission, Ministries and other authorities shall not announce any financial grants in any form or promises thereof......, which may have the effect of influencing the voters in favour of the party in power" ; and
Whereas, by announcement of such promise is prima facie a serious violation of the above provisions of the Model Code of Conduct;
Now, therefore, the Election Commission hereby gives notice to you, to show cause, as to why action should not be taken against you for the above violation of the Model Code of Conduct.
Your written reply, if any, in the matter should be sent to the Commission so as to reach the same in the Commission by 12th January, 2012 before 1700 hrs., failing which it would be assumed that you have nothing to say in the matter and action as deemed fit would be initiated against you without any further notice to you.