New Delhi: Union Human Resources Minister Arjun Singh on Sunday denied the Election Commission charge that he had prima facie violated the model of conduct for elections by announcing plans for reservation in elite educational institutions.
In his reply to the EC's communication, which sought his comments on the reported move as the election process is on in five states, he said it was unfortunate that he had been served a notice though a final decision had not been taken in the matter.
"This notice has been given to me on the basis of media reports. Also, these media reports themselves suggest that a final decision on the proposed reservation has to be taken only after the elections in five states," he said.
Singh said "there was no announcement of any concession, much less any other breach of the model code of conduct... There is no basis even for a prima facie view to that effect."
A decision of the Central government with regard to percentage of reservation of seats is yet to be taken, Singh told the EC which had on Saturday said that his announcement prima facie amounted to breach of the code of conduct as it gave new concessions to certain sections of the electorate in Assam, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, West Bengal and Pondicherry.
"It is unfortunate that the commission has issued the communication to the Cabinet Secretary merely on the basis of what it calls 'various reports appearing in the electronic and print media' and has concluded that the alleged announcement 'amounts to new concession to certain sections of the electorate' in the five states," Singh said.
(With agency inputs)
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