New Delhi: Union minister and Congress leader Beni Prasad Verma is expected to reply to Election Commission's notice for violating the model code of conduct.
Speaking at a rally in Farrukabad on the February 15, Verma had said reservations for minorities must be increased. He had even dared the EC to take action against him.
Beni Prasad is the second Congress minister to make the quota mistake.
Law Minister Salman Khurshid had recently caused a huge furore when he promised a 9 per cent Muslim sub-quota if the Congress won the elections.
On Friday, however, the Law Minister chose to defend Verma's comments.
"Whatever Beni said was in his capacity as Congress leader and not as a minister. He made his comments on party manifesto, which mentions the reservation issue," clarified Khurshid.
Elections are fought on the basis of party manifesto and if it is not talked about what else one would say, Khurshid asked.
BJP Chief Nitin Gadkari on Saturday commented and said the BJP does not support reservation on the basis of religion. "I want to assure the Dalits and the backward classes that the BJP will not reduce reservation of the SC, ST and OBC. I promise the SC, ST and OBC that if the BJP is voted to power in Uttar Pradesh, we will ensure that their quota is not reduced even by a per cent."
Gadkari also attacked the Congress for not taking action against Khurshid and Prasad and said the party is insulting the Election Commission.
Gadkari blamed the Samajwadi Party (SP) Chief Mulayam Singh and the Congress for bringing communal politics in the country.
Meanwhile, Arun Jaitley said, "The UPA leaders are violating the model code of conduct in a planned manner... The EC should take notice of this."
The Commission, which examined the video recordings of Verma's speech at a rally in Farrukhabad in UP, said it "is prima facie satisfied" that the Steel Minister, "by making the aforesaid statements, has violated the aforesaid provisions of the Model Code of Conduct".
The EC notice further states, "It is evident from the above statements of Shri Beni Prasad Verma that he was well aware that by making such utterances, he was violating the model code of conduct and yet he deliberately and wilfully did the same."
The Commission asked Verma to explain his position by 5 pm on February 20, as to why action should not be taken against him for violating the provisions of Model Code of Conduct.
In case Verma fails to reply to the notice, the EC will decide the matter without any further reference to him, the notice said.
Sources said the Election Commission had taken serious note of his comments, particularly for daring the poll body to take action against him.
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