New Delhi, Feb 18: The Election Commission today issued notice to Union Steel Minister Beni Prasad Verma over his remarks on sub-quota for minorities.
The Election Commission said it ''is prima facie satisfied'' that Verma ''by making the aforesaid statements, has violated the aforesaid provisions of the Model Code of Conduct''.
The Election Commission, which examined the video recordings of Verma''s speech made at a rally in Farrukhabad in Uttar Pradesh, further said: "It is evident from the above statements of Shri Beni Prasad Verma that he was well aware that by making such utterances, he was violating the model code of conduct and yet he deliberately and willfully did the same."
The Union Steel Minister has been asked to explain his position by 5 p.m. on February 20, as to why action should not be taken against him for violating the provisions of the Model Code of Conduct.
Beni Prasad Verma is the second Union Minister after Law and Justice Minister Salman Khurshid who has been issued notice from the Election Commission for poll code violation over the sub-quota remarks.
Addressing a rally in Farrukhabad earlier this month, Verma said: "We will make sure that enhanced reservation is given to backwards and the minorities if the Congress Party comes to power in Uttar Pradesh."
Earlier, Law Minister Salman Khurshid had promised an increase of nine per cent sub-quota for Muslims within the 27 percent reservation meant for Other Backward Classes (OBC).
The Election Commission thereafter issued a notice to Khurshid, saying his remarks had violated the Model Code of Conduct.
It sought the ''immediate and decisive'' intervention of President Pratibha Devisingh Patil after it charged Khurshid with ''improper and unlawful'' defiance of its orders under which he was censured for promising a sub-quota for minorities.
President Patil sent the Election Commission''s complaint against Khurshid to the Prime Minister''s Office for appropriate action.
However, the Election Commission put a lid on the standoff after Khurshid expressed regret for his defiance of the poll body.