UPA humiliating poll panel, says BJP

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Friday accused the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) of trying to "humiliate" the Election Commission of India.

“This is very unfortunate, the UPA-II has been trying to marginalise and humiliate many constitutional authorities,” BJP leader Balbir Punj told a TV channel, commenting on the row between the Election Commission and union minister Salman Khurshid on the minority quota.

“First, they decide to decrease the importance of the CAG (Comptroller and Auditor General), then it was the CVC (Chief Vigilance Commission), and now the Election Commission of India which has come out as one of the the most independent organisations of India ensuring the smooth functioning of democracy,” he said.

“Congress finds this inconvenient and is trying to belittle the importance of the EC."

The Election Commission had taken objection to Khurshid's suggestion of nine percent sub-quota for minorities within the 27 percent Other Backward Class (OBC) quota at a rally in his wife's constituency in poll-bound Uttar Pradesh.