Appearing on his behalf, senior counsel and Congress leader Abhishek Manu Singhvi told the Election Commission that Khurshid’s remarks were merely a reiteration and repetition of a “pre-declared” policy of the UPA government, which had been announced before the Model Code of Conduct came into place.

The EC had earlier issued a showcause notice to the Law Minister holding prima facie his promise of 9 per cent sub-quota for minorities as violation of the model code.

Singhvi said such “declaration of inclusionary kind” regarding minorities had been made in the party’s 2002 and 2007 election manifestos in Uttar Pradesh and 2009 manifesto during the general elections. He also told the EC that Khurshid had not referred to any particular minority community and had only reiterated a pre-declared government policy.