The controversy surrounding the recent comment made by Congress leader and Union Law Minister Salman Khurshid apparently has refused to die down as on Monday Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar reacted saying Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and the Election Commission should take “appropriate decision” on it.

Of late, the Election Commission too had passed strictures against the UPA Minister. “It’s up to the PM to control his Minister and if the Election Commission is convinced that its constitutional order has been violated then the Commission should adopt a strict posture on it”, said Nitish Kumar.

The Bihar Chief Minister said the Congress has always been advocating that it respects the constitutional institutions of the country. “But, one of its Ministers is openly violating it which reflects that the party and its Government are not serious on what Salman Khurshid has commented”, Nitish said.

Nitish Kumar while addressing mediapersons on the sidelines of his weekly Janata Durbar said that “Congress leader Salman Khurshid’s flagrant violation of EC’s directive is a very serious issue and the Prime Minister and the Election Commission hold the key for paving the way for a solution of the impasse,”.

The Bihar Chief Minister wondered how the Congress could be ignorant of what a controversial comment one of its Ministers had made “and did not take any action on it”.

Kumar also flayed the Congress-led Government at the Centre for its stand on reservation for minorities. “Earlier the Congress spoke about giving reservation for minorities but now its Minister is speaking about reservation for Muslims”, said Nitish Kumar while adding that it was aimed at influencing the Assembly elections in the State.

“The Centre should provide reservation for OBCs on the pattern of Bihar…It has been implemented in the State”, said Nitish, adding the reservation for OBCs was even there in the manifesto of our party.

Nitish Kumar further reminded the people that even when the recommendations of the Mandal Commission were being debated in the Lok Sabha, the then Leader of Opposition and former Prime Minister late Rajiv Gandhi had opposed it. “Let the extremely backwards be given reservation under Annexure I and other backwards under Annexure II which Bihar has implemented by enacting a legislation and not through an ordinance or decree”, he said.Nitish Kumar explained that “we have provisions for quota for Muslims within the quota for OBCs under Annexure I and Annexure II. We would appeal to the Central Government it should follow and implement the Bihar model of reservation,” said Nitish. “If the Centre or the Congress wants to give new reservation for minorities, it should come forward with a fresh reservation policy and give them the facility separately and we will support it,” the Bihar Chief Minister said.

When asked about the power crisis in the State, Nitish Kumar told mediapersons that the Centre has not been cooperating with the State as far as quota of power was concerned. “The Centre has been ignoring Bihar’s demand of its required quota of power for long…what should we do…but we’re establishing power plants to overcome the situation but it will take some time”, Nitish said.

Thackeray has unkind words for cong

Mumbai: Flaying Congress president Sonia Gandhi for “shedding tears” for those killed in the Batla House encounter, Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray on Monday said Law Minister Salman Khurshid may even announce a memorial for them. Thackeray riled Khurshid over his remarks that UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi had cried after seeing the images of Batla House encounter.

No comments from Narayanasamy

New Delhi: Minister of State in the Prime Minister’s Office V Narayanasamy has refrained from making any comments on the Election Commission’s stand on the controversial statements of Law Minister Salman Khurshid. “Two constitutional bodies — Honourable President’s office and the Election Commission — both are seized of the matter and, therefore, I don’t want to make any comment on that,” he said.