Beni's subquota remark a "criminal offence": BJP

New Delhi, Feb 20: BJP on Monday has alleged the statements made by union minister Beni Prasad Verma on sub-quota for minorities despite warnings from the Election Commission constitute a "criminal offence" and demanded appropriate criminal proceedings should be initiated against him.

"This is a deliberate action, not a default or a mistake, by Beni Prasad Verma which the Election Commission cannot ignore anymore. The offence is under Section 125 of Representation of Peoples' Act read with Section 505 of IPC.

This constitutes a criminal offence and appropriate criminal proceedings should be initiated against Verma," BJP spokesperson Rajiv Pratap Rudy told PTI. Praising the Election Commission for its action against Law Minister Salman Kurshid for the same offence, BJP said it is not ready to accept any dilution of authority of the poll panel.

"Congress leadership is all set for a larger ploy to demolish and denigrate the constitutional authority, something they have done several times in the past," Rudy charged.

PTI