Khurshid should not behave irresponsibly: CPI(M)

Allahabad, Feb 12: Criticising Union Minister Salman Khurshid for his “defiant stance” against the Election Commission, CPI(M) leader Prakash Karat on Sunday said “people occupying responsible positions must not talk and behave irresponsibly”.

“We do not approve of Khurshid’s defiant stance. He is a union minister and people occupying responsible posts must not talk and behave irresponsibly,” Karat, who was here to address election meetings in support of candidates fielded by his party, told reporters.

The Commission yesterday sought “immediate and decisive” intervention of President Pratibha Patil after it charged Law Minister Salman Khurshid with “improper and unlawful” defiance of its orders under which he was censured for promising sub-quota for minorities.

Addressing an election rally in Farukkhabad yesterday, Khurshid had said he would ensure the rights of backward Muslims even if the EC “hangs” him.

Khurshid refused to comment on Commission’s move today.

The CPI(M) general secretary said he was glad to see a rise in voters’ turnout in the ongoing assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh and claimed “this signals at the winds of change blowing across the state where people are fed up with the parties which have been in power here as well as the so-called national parties which have been in power at the Centre.”

“The results will surprise everybody. People are not going to vote for those who have been responsible for lawlessness and corruption.

“At the same time, they are not going to forgive those who have ruled the country and whose policies have been responsible for soaring prices,” he said.

The Left Party, which has been going through a lean phase ever since it lost power in West Bengal, after having ruled the state for close to three decades, has fielded its candidates in two out of 12 assembly segments in the district which will go to polls on February 15.

PTI