- Salman Khurshid has said his speech promising 9% quotas for OBC Muslims was not an appeal for votes on religious grounds. The law minister said "sub-quotas", as an instrument of social justice, were administered on the criteria of backwardness and the one for Muslims could not be termed communal.
- In his reply to EC, Khurshid argued sub-quotas to OBCs were part of the principle of equality enshrined in Articles 14, 15 and 16, which even found place in the landmark Indira Sawhney judgement in the Mandal Commission case. He asked how the assertion of a constitutional principle be termed as an appeal on caste or communal lines. He clarified his 9% sub-quota call was specifically for OBCs among Muslims, not for the community as a whole.
EC SHOWCAUSE TO KHURSHID
1. Appeal to religion for votes
1. Appeal to religion for votes
2. Misuse of official position as minister to announce policy
3. Misuse of official position to offer inducement
KHURSHID'S REPLY
OBC subquotas in spirit of Articles 14, 15, 16 of Constitution Subquota only for OBC Muslims, not entire community Spoke as Congress leader, not minister Chair of Congress manifesto committee
OBC subquotas in spirit of Articles 14, 15, 16 of Constitution Subquota only for OBC Muslims, not entire community Spoke as Congress leader, not minister Chair of Congress manifesto committee
