Muslim

Gilani must step down: Imran Khan, Nawaz Sharif

Islamabad: Pakistan Tehreek-i Insaaf (PTI) chief and former Pakistan cricket team captain Imran Khan came out strongly against Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani on Monday, saying that he must step down immediately. Khan was speaking in the aftermath of the Pakistan Supreme Court indicting Gilani for contempt of court over his failure to act on its orders against President Asif Ali Zardari in money laundering cases. "PM Gilani must...

Khurshid free to express his views: Priyanka

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...

PM may intervene in Khurshid-EC row

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...

EC row: PM likely to call meeting tomorrow

New Delhi: 24 hours after the Election Commission complained about Law Minister Salman Khursid to the President, he maintains, his sub-quota promise was part of the Congress manifesto. Pulled up by his party on one hand, Khurshid was defended by Congress leader Digvijaya Singh while the Opposition demands his resignation. The Prime Minister is likely to call a meeting on the crisis on Monday. The sources told CNN-IBN that Khurshid...

Jaitley demands Khurshid's resignation over quota remarks

The EC's letter has been forwarded by President Pratibha Patil to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. ...

Khurshid should not behave irresponsibly: CPM

Allahabad: Criticising Union Minister Salman Khurshid for his "defiant stance" against the Election Commission, CPI(M) leader Prakash Karat on Sunday said "people occupying responsible positions must not talk and behave irresponsibly". "We do not approve of Khurshid's defiant stance. He is a union minister and people occupying responsible posts must not talk and behave irresponsibly," Karat, who was here to address election meetings in support of candidates fielded by his...

Salman Khurshid mum on apology to EC

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 ...

Khurshid tightlipped on EC's move against him

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...

Cong pulls up Khurshid, to issue clarification

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...

Oppn raises pitch, wants PM to sack Khurshid

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...

Full text: EC writes to President against Salman Khurshid

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....

Khurshid defiant, violating code: EC to President

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...

Battle for the states: Is the Muslim votebank a myth?

Did Mayawati earn Muslim approval by jailing Varun Gandhi and maintaining law and order after Ayodhya title suit verdict? ...

EC pulls up Khurshid over quota promise

New Delhi: The Election Commission (EC) has censured Union Law Minister Salman Khurshid for his remarks on sub-quota for minorities. The Election Commission said it expects Khurshid not to repeat such violations of the model code in future. Khurshid had made the remarks on January 10 in Farrukhabad of increasing the sub-quota for backward minorities while campaigning in Uttar Pradesh. EC says Khurshid violated the model code of conduct by...

Cong trying to divide Muslims on quota: Maya

Ballia/Ghazipur: Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati on Wednesday charged the Congress with hatching a conspiracy to divide the Muslim community in the name of reservation. Addressing election meetings, the BSP supremo attacked Congress, saying it has never been the well-wisher of Muslims and is, therefore, trying to "instigate and misguide" them on the issue of reservation. "In reality, Congress is trying to use Muslims as vote bank," she said, charging...