UP polls: Muslim quota pits Cong against EC, Oppn

New Delhi: The issue of Muslim quota has put the Congress in trouble ahead of the assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh with the opposition calling the poll promise as unconstitutional and lodging a formal complaint with the Election Commission.

The Election Commission (EC) on Tuesday served show-cause notices on union Law Minister Salman Khurshid and his wife, Louise Khurshid, Congress candidate from Farrukhabad in UP. Louise was served the notice by the Election Commission as the law minister was campaigning for her when he promised a 9 per cent sub-quota for backward Muslims in Uttar Pradesh.

The Election Commission has asked Khurshid to reply in writing by 5 pm on Thursday. Where as Louise has been asked to explain within three days the statements made by her husband.

The notice was served after the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) complained about the promise of Muslim quota being made by the Congress.

Khurshid had promised 9 per cent sub-quota for backward Muslims within 27 per cent OBC quota in Uttar Pradesh if the Congress wins the assembly elections and forms government in the state.

The law minister had, however, dismissed the complaint by the BJP, saying there was no law against promising more quotas.

But, the EC took cognizance of the BJP's complaint against Khurshid's statement which the BJP had termed as unconstitutional.

Talking about the issue, BJP leader Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi had said, "BJP leaders met EC today. We have raised the issue about the way the Congress is trying to divide UP on the base of religion and caste to hide corruption. Whatever Salman Khurshid has said on 9 per cent Muslim sub quota is unconstitutional. This is a violation of moral code of conduct."

Reacting to the promise made by Khurshid, Samajwadi Party leader Azam Khan termed the Congress as fraud, accusing it of deceiving common people.

"They are again fooling Muslims by offering 9 per cent reservation. They don't want SP government in state. Why did they not bring this 9 per cent before, they did not bring because of RSS," said Azam.

"Congress is deceiving Muslims. They are fooling for last 60 years. We created law for Urdu teachers and we will make law for uplifting the Muslims in the state."