Constitutional bodies should be respected: Congress

NEW DELHI: Congress today appeared to disapprove of remarks by Union Steel Minister Beni Prasad Verma that have earned the ire of the Election Commission, saying that the party was always for giving respect to constitutional bodies.

"If Verma has been given notice by the EC, he will reply to it. As far as decorum is concerned, Congress always believes that constitutional bodies should be given respect," party spokesman Manish Tewari told reporters.

He said party general secretary Janardan Dwivedi has already said that the dignity of these bodies should be respected by all partymen.

Tewari's reaction came close on the heels of the EC holding that Verma's action was prima facie a violation of the Model Code of Conduct and asking him to reply by Monday evening.

The Congress spokesman also dismissed BJP's criticism in the matter. "The BJP has a perpetual habit of giving a running commentary and seeing a conspiracy where there is none," he remarked.

Verma is the second Union minister after Law Minister Salman Khurshid who has been issued notice by the poll body for poll code violation over the sub-quota remarks.