M A I N   N E W S

Khurshid dials PM, Cong tells its team to stay within limits
Vibha Sharma & Shahira Naim/TNS

New Delhi/Lucknow, Feb 12
A day after the Election Commission wrote to President Pratibha Patil, complaining about Law Minister Salman Khurshid’s “defiant” attitude on his remarks on minority quota, the Congress today issued a general advisory to its leaders, asking them to observe rules of the land and work within parameters of the Constitution and its institutions.

It was a QUIET DAY

As the Opposition’s clamour against his “defiance” of the EC gained momentum, the man in the eye of the storm called up Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to explain his position. Clarifying that he had no intention of defying the EC, Khurshid was quoted as saying that he would accept whatever position the PM decided to take on the issue.

Khurshid told reporters he had only said what was there in the Congress manifesto and that the Election Commission was perfectly entitled to do what it wanted.

Congress general secretary Janardhan Dwivedi had earlier said (without naming Khurshid) that “the EC is a Constitutional body. We want all Congress people to speak within the rules of the public life and the law of the land”.

The statement was read as the party’s displeasure and an indication that Khurshid should be prepared with a defence before the Prime Minister meets senior colleagues on the issue.

Sensing blood, Opposition BJP turned on the heat, lashing out against Khurshid’s “unconstitutional” utterances. BJP leader Sushma Swaraj urged Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to sack Khurshid. At a public meeting in Lucknow, Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha Arun Jaitely criticised Khurshid for indulging in dirty politics of repeatedly promising religion-based reservation.

Samajwadi Party spokesperson Shahid Siddiqui called Khurshid’s statement as a threat to Indian democracy.

Describing Khurshid as “desperate” to get votes, JD-U president Sharad Yadav demanded that the Prime Minister should “ban” him from entering Uttar Pradesh.

CPM leader Prakash Karat also advised “people occupying responsible positions” to “not talk and behave irresponsibly”. Predictably, senior Congress leader Digvijaya Singh batted for his colleague, arguing that “every political party has a right to bring up their own agendas”. However, keeping in line with the sensitivity of the issue, the Prime Minister is expected to discuss the matter with his Cabinet colleagues on Monday.