Nitish Slams Congress on Khurshid Controversy

Details

Category: More News

Created on Tuesday, 14 February 2012 13:02

CM at Janata Durbar in Patna on Monday.

Patna: Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, while talking to reporters following his weekly Janata Durbar in Patna on Monday, demanded stern actions against the Central Law Minister Salman Khurshid following the latter's recent remarks on quota for minorities.

Asking the Prime Minister to take punitive steps against Khurshid who remained defiant despite tough rebuke from the Election Commission (EC), the Chief Minister said that it was the task of the Prime Minister to keep his ministers in control and if they strayed away from their responsibilities then it was only appropriate to take necessary steps against them.

"Khurshid's statements following warnings from the Election Commission were deplorable and only showed his utter disregard for one of the most revered institutions of the nation. If the EC believes that its authorities have been violated, it should take necessary actions against the minister.

Accusing the Congress of trying to influence the outcome of the Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections, Kumar said that first the Congress Party was talking about giving reservation for the minorities and their ministers were talking about giving reservations for the Muslims just before the UP Assembly elections.

As reported, Khurshid, while campaigning for his wife Louise, who is a Congress candidate from Farrukhabad constituency, promised to raise the sub-quota for minorities from the current 4.5 percent to 9 percent if Congress came into power in UP.

Following his doubling down on his promise last Friday, the EC fired a letter to him accusing him of violating the Electoral Code of Conduct.

Khurshid, since then, has been trying to do some damage control by saying his statements were taken out of context and he had no intention of violating the law.

"The Center should provide reservation for OBC on the pattern of Bihar", the Chief Minister said.