By elevating Salman Khurshid, the leader mired in controversy over alleged financial irregularities, from Law to Foreign Affairs Minister, the Congress has made it clear that it would not dare send a wrong signal to the minority community, its main vote bank, at least not in Uttar Pradesh which has become too crucial to neglect.
State Congress leaders admitted that Khurshid’s “promotion” is indeed an attempt to woo the Muslim community.
“The minority community had turned to the Samajwadi Party (SP) in the recent Assembly elections which led to the Congress debacle,” another UP Congress leader said and added: “By resisting the Opposition’s demand for Khurshid’s removal, the Congress is trying to keep the community in good humour.”
Muslims constitute a significant amount of total number of voters in Khurshid’s constituency Farrukhabad. Louis Khurshid, his wife, was even elected to state Assembly Kaimganj segment in Farrukhabad.
Khrushid’s elevation comes at a time when the SP regime in state is announcing a number of welfare schemes for minority communities.
The state government has hiked the allocation for the minority welfare by a whopping 81 per cent in comparison with the previous year’s allotment.
It announced a series of sops, including financial assistance to the marriage of girls and maintenance of graveyards, to help the community. The SP has been clamouring for 18 per cent reservation for the Muslims in the government jobs.
Both the SP supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav and Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav have said on many occasions that muslim votes would be playing an important part if the SP wants to win 50 of the 80 Lok Sabha seats in the state..
Meanwhile, the India Against Corruption (IAC), on November 1, will corner Salman Khurshid over the alleged financial irregularities in the Zakir Hussain Memorial Trust headed by him. The IAC claimed to have ‘solid’ evidence to prove its charges against the Trust.
The Economic Offences Wing (EOW) of the UP police is currently probing the charges against the Trust.
The Trust had, according to sources, received Rs 70 lakh under the ADIP scheme in 2009-2010.
Analysts pointed out that the compulsions of the vote-bank politics have not only saved Khurshid but also ensured his elevation.
Muslims, who constitute around 20 per cent of the state's electorate, play a decisive role in 25 LS constituencies in the state.
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