New Delhi: After the Election Commission shut the Salman Khurshid Muslim quota promise chapter, Steel Minister Beni Prasad Verma has also made a similar promise. At a public rally in Farrukhabad, the Congress leader said, "Muslims will be given more facilities, Muslims will be given reservation." Congress General Secretary Digvijaya Singh was also present at the meeting. Sources in the EC have told CNN-IBN that they will get a tape...
11:34 AM, Feb 16, 2012
Lucknow: Brisk polling continued in the third phase of UP Assembly elections for 56 seats in 10 districts with 47.05 per cent of the over 1.75 crore electorate exercising their franchise till the late afternoon. Sultanpur district recorded maximum 50 per cent polling, whereas minimum 44.88 per cent was registered in Jaunpur. "Voting began at 7 AM for the third phase of assembly elections and 47.05 per cent polling was...
10:39 AM, Feb 15, 2012
Home Minister P Chidambaram confirmed that the attack on an Israeli embassy car was sophisticated and the bomber well trained. ...
10:39 PM, Feb 14, 2012
Farukhabad (UP): In the eye of a storm over his Muslim sub-quota remarks and the subsequent face-off with the Election Commission, Union Law Minister Salman Khurshid on Tuesday said the matter was a closed chapter now. "This chapter is closed now," Khurshid told mediapersons who sought his reaction on the row. Khurshid along with Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dixit was in Farukhabad to attend an election meeting in support of...
06:32 PM, Feb 14, 2012
Farroukhabad: While the Election Commission has decided to close the issue on Salman Khurshid, a new problem has cropped up for the Law Minister. A lawyer in Farroukhabad has filed an FIR against Khurshid for allegedly violating the Representation of People Act. "I have registered an FIR against Khurshid for his violation of the law and statement on minority quotas," lawyer KK Gupta said. "The court has given February 18...
12:29 PM, Feb 14, 2012
New Delhi: The Election Commission has decided to close the matter on Salman Khurshid after the latter wrote to the EC saying he had the highest regard for the institution. The Union Law Minister has been facing the Election Commission heat over a Muslim sub-quota remark that he made at an election rally in Uttar Pradesh recently. The issue led to a furore with the EC writing to the President...
11:40 AM, Feb 14, 2012
New Delhi: Union Law Minister Salman Khurshid, who has been facing the Election Commission heat over the issue of minority quota, on Monday wrote to the constitutional body. He told the election body that he respects the institution and also the Election Commission for the decision it takes. The Law Minister further mentioned in his letter that the minority quota was a manifesto issue, calling the entire controversy unfortunate. Meanwhile,...
12:08 AM, Feb 14, 2012
BJP leader Prakash Javadekar said on Monday that the Congress was protecting its Law Minister, Salman Khurshid by not taking any action against him. "If the Law Minister does not respect the law, who will? No action has been taken against the minister despite the EC's complaint," he said. ...
02:16 PM, Feb 13, 2012
New Delhi: In what could be a potential embarrassment for the Congress, Priyanka Gandhi said on Monday that Salman Khurshid was "free" to express his opinions and so was the Election Commission. Referring to the ongoing row between the Union Law Minister and the Election Commission over a Muslim sub-quota remark that he made during a rally in the state, Priyanka said that people were free to express their feelings...
01:50 PM, Feb 13, 2012
Farukhabad: A notice has been issued to Congress MP and former cricketer Azharuddin for allegedly violating the model code of conduct by distributing shawls in an election meeting in Farukhabad, officials said on Monday. The notice was issued by a Kayamganj election officer to Azharuddin, who allegedly distributed shawls at an election meeting in Shamshabad on February 11, they said. The notice has been sent by Mahendra Kumar Mishra, Sub...
01:01 PM, Feb 13, 2012
New Delhi, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh is likely to discuss with senior ministers and party leaders the Election Commission complaint against Law Minister Salman Khurshid for his "aggressive" stance on quota for Muslims in Uttar Pradesh, Congress insiders said on Monday. Khurshid, who on Sunday spoke to Manmohan Singh on the issue, is also likely to issue a clarification on his stance. Congress sources said the prime minister was likely...
12:58 PM, Feb 13, 2012
As Prime Minister Manmohan Singh gets set to ask Law Minister Salman Khurshid to explain his stand on his standoff with the Election Commission, CNN-IBN asks some hitherto unanswered questions. Did Union Law Minister Salman Khurshid make the Muslim sub-quota remark because the Congress desperation for Muslim vote has grown in UP? Was it because Khurshid's wife is facing a tough fight in Farroukhabad? Why has the Government stayed silent ...
02:01 PM, Feb 12, 2012
Lucknow: In the thick of controversy over his remarks on minorities' sub-quota, Law Minister Salman Khurshid on Sunday refused to comment on Election Commission's move seeking "immediate and decisive" intervention of President Pratibha Patil. "I will not talk to anyone.... Do I refuse you (media)?... When I have to say something I say it," Khurshid told reporters when asked about the EC's recommendation on Saturday State Congress leader Abid Hussain...
01:32 PM, Feb 12, 2012
New Delhi: The Congress has reportedly pulled up Law Minister Salman Khurshid for taking on the Election Commission saying it expected its leaders to respect and work within parameters of the Constitution and institutions. Sources told CNN-IBN that the government or the Law Minister was expected to issue a clarification saying that he never meant to show any disrespect to the EC, that he valued the Commission as an institution...
12:30 PM, Feb 12, 2012
The Election Commission on Saturday sought the 'immediate and decisive' intervention of President after it charged Congress minister Salman Khurshid with 'improper and unlawful' defiance of its orders under which he was censured for promising sub-quota for minorities. ...
10:01 AM, Feb 12, 2012
New Delhi: Hours after Election Commissioner wrote a letter to President Pratibha Patil against Union Law Minister Salman Khurshid, the BJP on Sunday said that Khurshid was making fun of the integrity of the Election Commission. "It is an open violation of the code of conduct. It is unfortunate. It shows rebelliousness. Will Sonia Gandhi not speak up now? For the first time ever a minorities minister, who also happens...
07:30 AM, Feb 12, 2012
New Delhi: With Election Commission seeking President Pratibha Patil's intervention on Law Minister Salman Khurshid's defiance of poll body's censure of his sub-quota remarks, BJP on Saturday sought his immediate dismissal from the cabinet. "We demand his immediate sacking from the Union Cabinet and ask the Prime Minister to clarify the stand of the government," said BJP vice president Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi who had earlier complained to the EC against...
10:55 PM, Feb 11, 2012
New Delhi: The Election Commission (EC) on Saturday wrote a letter to the President against Union Law Minister Salman Khurshid for his defiant attitude on the poll code. Here's the full text of the letter: Respected Rashtrapati Ji, The Commission is approaching you with serious dismay and a deep sense of urgency that requires your kind intervention in the midst of the poll process in the state of Uttar Pradesh....
10:19 PM, Feb 11, 2012
New Delhi: In an unprecedented action, the Election Commission (EC) on Saturday wrote to President Pratibha Patil against Union Law Minister Khurshid's alleged defiance of model code of conduct. Khurshid had dared the Election Commission to act against him over his comment on Muslim sub-quota. The Election Commission said that it was shocked that Khurshid chose to be defiant and aggressive. In its letter, SY Quraishi wrote, "The Commission is...
09:18 PM, Feb 11, 2012
Farukkhabad: Sticking to his stand on minorities, Congress leader Salman Khurshid has said he would ensure the rights of backward Muslims even if the Election Commission "hangs" him. Addressing an election rally in Khatakpur locality last night, the Law Minister said that EC had censured him, but even if the "Commission hangs him or does anything else, he would ensure that people of Pasmanda community get their rights". "Can't I...
06:24 PM, Feb 11, 2012
