Azamgarh:
Rahul Gandhi demonstrated an unwavering commitment to making reservation for Muslims a major election issue for Uttar Pradesh.
Law Minister Salman Khurshid was served a notice by the Election Commission for violating the model code of conduct by publicly declaring yesterday that if the Congress is voted into power, it will create a nine per cent sub-quota for Muslims within the existing 27 per cent quota for OBCs in the state.
"Mulayam (Yadav) has been the Chief Minister thrice and Mayawati four times. But not once they spoke about reservation (for Muslims) when they were chief ministers, not once did they mention reservation," said Mr Gandhi today. He is leading the Congress' campaign in UP, where Muslims form 18 per cent of the population. The outcome of nearly 100 Assembly seats will depend on who they vote for.
Mr Gandhi also mocked the Samajwadi Party's slogan of "ummed ki cycle" (cycle of hope) stressing that it had been punctured thrice.
Before the elections were announced for UP and four other states, the cabinet approved a sub-quota of 4.5 per cent for minorities within the 27 per cent OBC quota that applies to central government jobs and universities. The Congress, according to Mr Khurshid, will double that sub-quota in UP.
(
With PTI Inputs)