Former CEC SY Qureshi revealed that during the UPA-2 government, when he complained about criticism of the Election Commission by ministers, the then PM Manmohan Singh became extremely distressed and said, ‘If you think like this, I will commit suicide.’
New Delhi [भारत]June 13 (ANI): Former Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) SY Qureshi has said that former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had great respect for the Election Commission. Recalling an incident, he said that when he conveyed the commission’s opinion to Manmohan Singh about the ‘objectionable statements’ made by his ministers during the UPA-2 government, he said, “If you think like this, I will commit suicide…”
In an interview with ANI, Qureshi, who was CEC from 2010 to 2012, said he was shocked to hear Manmohan Singh’s words and was “not at all prepared for it.” Qureshi said that it took him 15-20 minutes to calm down the then Prime Minister. He also said that any kind of accusation on the Election Commission was not acceptable to Manmohan Singh.
What was the whole matter?
The incident pertains to the 2012 Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections, when the Election Commission had reprimanded the then Union Law and Minority Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid for his comments. Qureshi said, “When we were conducting elections in UP, at the same time Law Minister Salman Khurshid announced that if he came to power, he would increase the quota for minorities. Immediately the BJP complained (to the Election Commission). We took all these complaints very seriously. We immediately gave notice to the other party and an army of lawyers appeared from both the sides.”
He further said, “After four days of hearing, we came to the conclusion that Mr. Khurshid had indeed violated the Model Code of Conduct. So we imposed the maximum punishment… After that, some Congress ministers and leaders started making objectionable statements against the Election Commission and me personally. We were very upset. I don’t mind my criticism, but criticizing the Election Commission was not acceptable.”
‘Your government will be exposed’
Qureshi recalled a conversation he had with Harish Khare, media advisor to then Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. Qureshi said, “On one occasion when Harish Khare (media advisor to former PM Manmohan Singh) met me, I told him that this kind of rhetoric is not acceptable and if I tell the media that all this is happening, your government will be exposed. So he said, should I tell this to the Prime Minister? I said, it is for the Prime Minister to take action.”
He further added, “The next day, I got an almost panicked call from Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh, he said, Qureshi ji, I want to meet you immediately… When I met him, he said, Mr. Qureshi, Harish has told me about your conversation last night. If you think like this, I will commit suicide… I was shocked. I was not at all prepared for this. I just wanted to bring to his notice the rhetoric being made by his ministers.” It took me 15-20 minutes to calm him down.”
Qureshi said he told the then prime minister that he admired him. “That you are such a big supporter of the Election Commission… it shows his sensitivity and his great respect for the Commission. And any aspersions on the Election Commission were not acceptable to him,” the former CEC said.
Khurshid had promised nine percent reservation for backward Muslims while campaigning for his wife Louise, who was the Congress candidate from Farrukhabad, in Uttar Pradesh. The Election Commission had condemned him. He later expressed regret over his comments and said he bowed to the discretion of the Election Commission. (ANI)
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