Notice to Khurshid's wife for his Muslim quota promise

The Uttar Pradesh election authorities have served a show-cause notice on Congress nominee from Farrukhabad Louise Khurshid over her husband Law minister Salman Khurshid's promise to voters of granting nine per cent sub-quota for backward Muslims in the state if voted to power.

The Law minister while campaigning for his wife Louise in Farrukhabad yesterday had promised to the electorate that if Congress was voted to power in the state it would enhance the sub-quota to Muslims to 9 per cent within the 27 per cent quota for Other Backward Classes (OBCs).

Taking cognisance of the Law minister's promises, the state Election Office served a show-cause to his wife to explain within three days the statements made by her husband while campaigning in her favour.

Farrukhabad District Electoral Officer Sachchidanand Dubey told PTI that "a show cause notice has been served on Louise Khurshid  by the Returning Officer for Farrukhabad assembly constituency Ashok Kumar Lal".

Taking strong exception to the Law Minister's statement on sub-quota for muslims and terming it as a "violation" of the election model code of conduct, a delegation of BJP leaders had also met Chief Election Commissioner S Y Quraishi in Delhi and sought action.

Khurshid had said the Congress would provide nine per cent reservation for backward Muslims within the existing OBC quota in UP in the event of the party forming the government in the state. He said more than eight castes such as Mansoori and Qureshi would benefit from such a move.

He had also reminded the voters that the UPA government at the Centre had already taken a decision to provide 4.5 per cent reservation for minorities within the existing 27 per cent OBC quota.