Congress tried to appease Muslims to seek votes: Rajnath Singh

Lucknow, Feb 17 (ANI): Reacting to Union Steel Minister Beni Prasad Verma's statement supporting a minority quota for Muslims, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Rajnath Singh has alleged that the Congress party is trying to appease Muslims to attract their votes

"I think the Election Commission would take cognizance of Beni Prasad's statement. They are trying to communalise the entire election process. They want to communalise the election process. They consider the Muslim community as their vote bank only," Singh told reporters in Lucknow.

Addressing a rally in Farrukhabad, Beni Prasad Verma said, "We will make sure that enhanced reservation is given to backwards and the minorities if the Congress Party comes to power in Uttar Pradesh."

He also said that Muslims have not got their dues and added that non-Congress governments in the state have done nothing to improve their lot.

Verma said that he was least bothered about the Election Commission taking action against him on his statement.

Earlier, Law Minister Salman Khurshid had promised an increase of nine per cent sub-quota for Muslims within the 27 percent reservation meant for Other Backward Classes (OBC).

The Election Commission thereafter issued a notice to Khurshid, saying his remarks had violated the Model Code of Conduct.

It sought the "immediate and decisive" intervention of President Pratibha Devisingh Patil after it charged Khurshid with "improper and unlawful" defiance of its orders under which he was censured for promising a sub-quota for minorities.

President Patil sent the Election Commission's complaint against Khurshid to the Prime Minister's Office for appropriate action.

However, the Election Commission put a lid on the standoff after Khurshid expressed regret for his defiance of the poll body. (ANI)