BJP rejects Muslim quota, seeks action against Khurshid

A BJP team led by Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi told the Election Commission that the announcement of quotas for Muslims by law minister Salman Khurshid violated the election code of conduct.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Tuesday asked Chief Election Commissioner SY Quraishi to take action against law minister Salman Khurshid for violating the code of conduct by announcing quotas for Muslims if the Congress was voted to power in Uttar Pradesh.

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The team, led by BJP leader Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi, told the Election Commission that the announcement by the union minister was unconstitutional and violated the election code of conduct.

"He made the announcement in the constituency of his wife (Farrukhabad). This will hamper free and fair elections in the state and it is unconstitutional and violation of code of conduct. We demand a strict action against him and the Congress party," Naqvi told reporters after the meeting.

Khurshid had Monday announced that a nine percent sub-quota for backward Muslims would be provided in Uttar Pradesh if the party was voted to power.

The BJP has also called for rescheduling the date of voting in Uttarakhand from Jan 30 to around Feb 10 due to inclement weather conditions.

"There is heavy snowfall in the state and it will affect the campaigning and voting process in the state," he said.