NCP disapproves of Cong ministers' quota remarks during polls

NCP, an important ally of the ruling UPA coalition, today disapproved of Congress ministers making statements on sub-quota for minorities during Uttar Pradesh election campaign saying it was not "wise" to do so when the poll process is on.

"It is not wise to make such statements when the election process is on in UP," Nationalist Congress Party President Sharad Pawar told reporters on the sidelines of a function here to announce launch of the 'Year of Horticulture'.

Pawar, who is Union Minister for Agriculture and Food Processing, was asked about Union Steel Minister Beni Prasad Verma making statements on reservation for Muslims within OBC quota after Law Minister Salman Khurshid.

Asked if he supported Trinamool Congress, another ally of UPA, approaching the Election Commission demanding "debarring" of Verma from the state, Pawar did not make any comment.

The NCP chief said that he would make a detailed statement on the subject only after election process was over.

Verma had said at a election rally in Farrukhabad in the presence of Congress general secretary Digvijay Singh and Union Law Minister Salman Khurshid that "reservation for Muslims will be increased and if the EC wants, it can now issue notice to me."

Khurshid had triggered a controversy last week by stating that he would continue to speak on nine per cent sub-quota for minorities even if the Election Commission "hangs" him.

The Minister later expressed regret to the poll body over his remarks on subquota for minorities.