The Election Commission on Wednesday decided not to take any further action in the issue involving Union Law and Justice Minister Salman Khurshid, after “the Minister's clear change of position as conveyed … to the Commission.”
It advised “all the contending parties and those campaigning in elections, particularly those holding public offices, to be extremely careful, so that a situation, as in this case [violation of the model code], does not recur.”
Chief Election Commissioner S.Y. Quraishi and Election Commissioners V.S. Sampath and H.S. Brahma, who considered the letter of “regret” sent by Mr. Khurshid on Monday night, said: “The communication … establishes a complete and positive reversal of approach, in which he has also committed himself to the Election Commission's efforts to conduct of free and fair election.” The Election Commission had earlier sent a complaint to President Pratibha Patil, seeking her “immediate intervention.”
It said Mr. Khurshid had “regretted the statement he had made during the campaign in Uttar Pradesh, following the Commission's censure of him.”
In his letter, the Minister underlined his respect for the Election Commission's decision. The Election Commission noted that the Minister recorded his commitment to ensure that such situations did not arise in future.
The Election Commission's overwhelming concern was about Mr. Khurshid's approach to the issue and its own position. It was also concerned about the implications this could have for the Assembly elections in U.P.; the conduct of free and fair elections in future; and for the overall constitutional design.
“The Election Commission took into account the fact that the primary purpose of the model code of conduct is to prevent wrongdoings in the electoral field and make sure that compliance with the code is foolproof in the current elections as also in the future. In this particular case, it was incumbent upon the Election Commission to address and resolve the spill-over of larger issues rather than taking any other measures,” it said.
The case relates the Minister's remarks at a rally in Uttar Pradesh on January 8. He had promised a nine per cent sub-quota in the 27 per cent reservation in employment and education for minorities, especially the Muslims. The Election Commission censured him. But Mr. Khurshid said he would stick to his stand even if it hanged him. After the Commission lodged a complaint with the President, the Minister sent his letter of regret to the Commission, promising that he would not act in the manner in future.
