With Union Law Minister Salman Khurshid repeatedly defying the Election Commission of India (ECI) at campaigns for the ongoing Uttar Pradesh elections, the ECI on Saturday wrote to President Pratibha Devi Singh Patil to act against the senior Congress leader.

Khurshid was caught again, on Saturday, violating model codes when he said that even if he was hung by the Election Commission he would speak for job quota for the Muslims.

"Khurshid has been seen in television media today (Feb. 11, 2012) making statements to the effect that he would pursue the line of his earlier announcement irrespective of whatever the Commission directs.  In fact, the Union Minister goes on to say that he would stick to his line, 'even if they hang me'," Chief Election Commissioner S.Y. Quraishi wrote to the President in his letter.

"We have found the tone and tenor of the Union Minister dismissive and utterly contemptuous about the Commission's lawful direction to him, besides the fact that his action is damaging the level playing field in the election," Quraishi added.

"The above response of a Union Minister and that too, the Law Minister, to the Commission's decision in a MCC [Model Code of Conduct] case has created a disturbing situation. The Commission is shocked that instead of being remorseful about the violation of the Model Code, that carries the consensus of all political parties and the sanction of the Supreme Court, the Minister has chosen to be defiant and aggressive. This is unprecedented. The full Commission hence deliberated on the matter in an emergency meeting, this afternoon, while being concerned about the fact that Khurshid's action could vitiate free and fair poll in Uttar Pradesh," Quraishi wrote, adding: "The Commission is approaching you with serious dismay and a deep sense of urgency that requires your kind intervention in the midst of the poll process in the state of Uttar Pradesh."

Meanwhile, the ECI said Khurshid first said the Congress would provide a quota of 9 percent reservations to the minorities, within the existing quota of 27 percent for OBCs and also indicated that Muslims having a sizeable population would benefit from this move.

The ECI said it acted against him and censured him on complaints from a political party that such announcement was a violation of the Model Code of Conduct, but he continued to repeat the same. 

"The Election Commission of India finds it necessary and unavoidable to turn to you at this juncture for immediate and decisive intervention so that the ongoing general election to the Uttar Pradesh Assembly is conducted, and this Commission discharges its functions, in accordance with the Constitution and the law," the ECI said in its letter to the President. 

Earlier Khurshid had claimed, at a rally at Azamgarh in Uttar Pradesh, that party supremo Sonia Gandhi was in tears when she was shown the images of the Batla House encounter in which Muslim terrorists were killed. 

It is believed Khurshid was trying to woo the Muslim voters (on what is the last day of campaigning - Feb. 9) before the second phase of polls in Uttar Pradesh but his words sparked a strong reaction.

The Congress, however, has disputed Khurshid's statements. The party's senior leader, Digvijaya Singh, said on Friday: "Soniaji never cried. These are the words of Salman Khurshid."

With 18 percent of voters in Uttar Pradesh belonging to the minority community, there is a mad rush among the political parties to woo the Muslims.