EC serves notice on Beni

The Election Commission on Saturday noted that Union Steel Minister Beni Prasad Verma had prima facie violated the model code of conduct by his remarks on minority sub-quota issue, and sought an explanation from the Congress leader as to why action should not be taken against him.

Issuing a notice on the minister on Saturday, the poll panel asked him to submit his explanation by February 20 before 5 pm, “failing which the commission will decide the matter without any further reference to him.”

Verma, while addressing an election rally in Farrukhabad on February 15, had dared the Election Commission to serve notice on him, promising that reservation for Muslims will be increased.

The commission observed prime facie that he had violated the model code of conduct.
“Having seen it (video recordings), the commission is prima facie satisfied that Beni Prasad Verma, Union Minister of Steel, by making the aforesaid statements, has violated the provisions of the model code of conduct,” the EC said in the notice issued to him.

It was “evident” from the statements of Verma that he was “well aware” that by making such utterances, he was violating the model code of conduct and yet he “deliberately and willfully” did the same.