Alvi defends Salman Khursid over his comments on Muslim reservation

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New Delhi, Jan 11 : Congress spokesperson Rashid Alvidefended Law Minister Salman Khurshid's suggestions to provide nine percent reservation for Muslims as against the existing quota reserved for groups bracketed under other backward classes (OBCs).

A day earlier, Khurshid had promised to raise the reservation as against the existing quota of 4.5 percent reserved for groups bracketed under other OBCs, if the party is elected to the assembly election of Uttar Pradesh.

Refraining to comment extensively on the decisions of the election commission, Alvi said that it is just for Khurshid to voice his opinions.

"We have already provided upto 4.5 percent reservation for minorities and for groups bracketed under other backward classes (OBCs). We have also clearly implemented what we said in our party manifesto about reservation. Today, if Salman Khurshid puts his view about reservation, I think it is all right for him to voice his opinions," he said.

"If the Election Commission of India has any objection with any of his comments and wants to issue a notice, the authority will do so as per it's norms and deal with Khurshid directly. I would not like to comment heavily on the issue," he added.

Highlighting the importance of the Election Commission, Alvi said that the party has always abided by its rules and would urge other political parties to follow suit.

"The Election Commission is an independent and constitutional body, we are not going to make any derogatory comments on it. What has happened today is not about gaining advantage or disadvantage in elections. The body takes its own decision and we have always abided by what it says and today we urge other political parties to follow suit and not make any comments on anything related to it," said Alvi.

Uttar Pradesh will elect a new 403-member state assembly in March, and the poll results are expected to broadly indicate trends for 2014 general elections.