EC irks over Salman's 'baulker' action; Urges President to intervene

The Election Commission of India, an autonomous, quasi-judiciary constitutional body of India liable for conducting free and fair election in the country has reportedly irked from Union Law minister Salman Khursheed's 'defiant behaviour' despite repetitive warning of the commission. The EC on Friday has warned him for not violating the 'model code of conduct' in the current assembly election going on Uttar Pradesh.

The Election Commission (EC) has now written a letter to President Pratibha Devi Singh Patil seeking her 'decisive intervention' in order to ensure free and fair election in Uttar Pradesh as per law.

EC has taken this step in response of Salman Khursheed's Saturday remark in which Salman has stated that he was committed to the people to provide their rights, no matter EC hanged him.

"If they want to hang me they can, they can hang me for committing to people for a quota...We will change the fate of the poor, even if we have to go against EC, we will change the fate of the poor."

Earlier EC on Friday has warned him for not repeating the act of violating 'model code of conduct' which he had done in Farrukhabad district of Uttar Pradesh during campaigning for her wife Louise Khursheed where he had announced to provide 9% reservation sub-quota to the minorities if Congress come in power in the state in this election.

Taking immediate action EC has issued a 'Cause Notice' to him and warned him to not to do again, but Khursheed was reportedly rigid on his stand.

According to Rashtrapati Bhawan spokesperson, "The President has forwarded the EC's letter to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh for appropriate action."

EC in its letter has written, "The commission is shocked that instead of being remorseful of earlier violation of the mode code, the minister has chosen to be defiant and aggressive…. the delicate balance of functions between the Constitutional authorities has come under strain because of the minister's "improper" and "unlawful" action……."The EC finds it necessary and unavoidable to turn to you for immediate and decisive intervention."

The opposition party in centre Bhartiya Janta party has asked the UPA government to sack Salman Khursheed for his alleged 'baulker' behaviour.

"The PM and the President should interfere in this matter. If the government doesn't remove Khurshid, then we will consider that this is a collective statement of the Congress," senior BJP leader Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi said.