BJP complains to Election Commission on Beni Prasad's quota remark

New Delhi: Mamata Banerjee's Trinamool Congress got there first, but the BJP too has now landed up at the Election Commission's door to complain against Congress minister Beni Prasad Verma for doing a Salman Khurshid and talking about reservation for Muslims in an election speech in Uttar Pradesh.

The BJP says Congress leaders are repeatedly violating the model code of conduct in UP and has also taken umbrage at Mr Yadav openly challenging the Election Commission. Mr Verma said at an election rally in Farrukhabad, "Reservation for Muslims will be increased and if the EC wants, it can now issue a notice to me." Congress general secretary Digvijaya Singh and Law Minister Salman Khurshid sat and listened. Mr Khurshid's wife Louise Khurshid is the Congress candidate from Farrukhabad, and it was here that the Law Minister too had made a speech on the same issue that plunged him into a row with the poll panel. Mr Verma, in his speech, supported Mr Khurshid, saying he was "honestly fighting for the Muslims."

Mr Verma is the Union Steel Minister and a prominent UP leader who was imported by the Congress from the Samajwadi Party.

The Election Commission too has taken note of Mr Verma's remarks and is examining his speech. An EC official in Farrukhabad said, "We are in possession of the CD of the minister's speech. The Election Commission is examining the matter."

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Yesterday, the Congress' fickle ally the Trinamool Congress complained to the EC formally. Trinamool leader and Mr Verma's colleague in the UPA ministry Sultan Ahmed said, "Whether it's Beni or Salman, Congress leaders are breaking model code of conduct, they want to fool the community. Minorities in UP are not voting on this issue."

"EC should take serious cognizance. They are not paying heed to the Election Commission," Mr Ahmed added.

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Salman Khurshid had first stirred a hornet's nest in January when he talked about a nine per cent sub quota for minorities in UP if the Congress was voted to power. There were protests and complaints from other parties and the Election Commission held his speech as a violation of the model code of conduct. Mr Khurshid then triggered fresh controversy last week by stating that he would continue to speak on the nine per cent sub-quota for minorities even if the Election Commission "hangs me". The poll panel yesterday put a lid on the standoff with the minister after he expressed regret over his "defiance" of the poll body.

The BJP's Balbir Punj said yesterday that Congress ministers were doing this deliberately and with the blessings of the party leadership.

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