Jaiswal denies wrongdoing

Senior Congress leader and union minister Sriprakash Jaiswal, whose remarks that President’s rule will be imposed on Uttar Pradesh if the “Congress does not get a majority” had triggered a controversy and resulted in issuance of a notice to him by the Election Commission (EC), said on Saturday that he had not said what was being claimed.

“I do not think I have done anything wrong...the media has only aired my answer...it has not aired the question in response to which the statement was made...I will make available to the EC the question and the answer,” Jaiswal said while speaking to reporters at Agra.

“I have the greatest respect for the EC and I shall file my reply to the notice on time,” the minister said.

He claimed that the results of the ongoing assembly elections “will be surprising” and the Congress-RLD alliance would secure an absolute majority.

Evades reply

He evaded a reply when asked what would happen if none “gets a majority.

“I said that Congress-RLD alliance will secure majority,” he added.
Jaiswal had a few days ago triggered a controversy after he reportedly said President’s rule would be imposed on UP in case the Congress did not get an absolute majority. Opposition parties had taken strong exception to this remark.

Jaiswal, however, later clarified that he had said that President’s rule would be the only option if none got a majority in UP after the poll.

Reacting sharply to his remarks, BJP leader Uma Bharti said that it reflected that the Congress leaders did not believe in democracy.

Samajwadi Party leader Akhilesh Yadav also condemned the remarks and said that the people of the state would give a befitting reply to the Congress in the poll.
The EC had later issued a notice to him seeking his explanation on the reported remarks.