UP polls - Salman Khurshid dares EC, BJP reacts

Farrukhabad: Even as the polling for the second phase of the Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections were underway, Union Law Minister Salman Khurshid did not refrain from keeping up the campaign for the third phase.

In a not-so-veiled attempt, Khurshid took on the Election Commission in his stronghold of Farrukhabad.

"I don't have permission to talk about the rights of minorities. I was attacked for promising them their rights. They can hang me for standing up for the minorities," said the Congress leader.

As expected, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) did not take long to hit back.

BJP spokesperson Balbir Punj hit out at Khurshid saying it was unfortunate that a low minister was undermining the authority of a constitutional body.

"It is really unfortunate that of all the people, the Law Minister of the country, Mr Salman Khurshid, is not only challenging the authority of the Election Commission of India but also undermining its authority," said Punj.

The BJP leader further asked Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to take notice of the issue and sack the Law Minister.

"This is really very sad and the PM must take cognizance of it. And for having made this statement which undermines the authority of the EC, the PM must sack Khurshid immediately," he said.

Posted in: Politics