UP elections: Priyanka Gandhi backs Salman Khurshid's right to speech

LUCKNOW: Expressing hope that the war of words between Union law minister Salman Khurshid and the Election Commission on the sub-quota for Muslims would be sorted out soon, the Congress's star campaigner Priyanka Gandhi on Monday sought to play down the row.

Everyone, she said, was free to voice his or her opinion during elections and so was the EC. Speaking to reporters in Rae Bareli, Priyanka said, “We are a democracy. The EC is also free to give its opinion. Matter is between two constitutional bodies. Such things happen during elections but I am confident that matter will be resolved soon.”

Last week, EC had rapped Khurshid for violating the model code of conduct when he said in a public meeting while campaigning for the UP polls that if voted to power, the Congress would increase the Muslim sub-quota in OBC category from 4.5% to 9%.Khurshid brushed aside the warning and declared that he cared little and that even if he were “hanged by the EC” , he would still fight for the cause of poor Muslims.

"If they want to hang me they can... We will change the fate of the poor even if we have to go against EC,” Khurshid said at a rally in Farrukhabad. Following this, the EC wrote to President Pratibha Patil complaining about Khurshid's "defiant attitude" over EC's censure. The EC then replied saying his behaviour was "unprecedented" .