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|---|---|
 Salman Khurshid | |
| Ministry of Law and Justice | |
| Incumbent | |
| Assumed office 28 May 2011 | |
| Constituency | Farrukhabad |
| Personal details | |
| Born | (1953-01-01) 1 January 1953 (age 72) Aligarh, Uttar Pradesh |
| Nationality | Indian |
| Political party | Indian National Congress |
| Spouse | Louise Khurshid |
| Residence(s) | Kaimganj, Pitaura |
| Alma mater | University of Delhi St Edmund Hall, Oxford |
| Profession | Advocate |
Salman Khurshid (born 1 January 1953) is an Indian politician belonging to the Indian National Congress, a lawyer, and a writer who has been elected from Farrukhabad Lok Sabha constituency in the General Election of 2009. He belongs to the Farrukhabad area. He is presently the Cabinet Minister of the Ministry of Law and Justice and Ministry of Minority Affairs. Prior to this he was elected to the 10th Lok Sabha (1991–1996) from the Farrukhabad Lok Sabha constituency. He became the Union Deputy Minister of Commerce in June 1991, and later became the Union Minister of State of External Affairs (Jan. 1993-June 1996). Before that he had started his political career in 1981 as an Officer on Special Duty in the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) under the prime ministership of Mrs. Indira Gandhi.
Early life and education
Born in Aligarh, Uttar Pradesh, he is the son of Khurshed Alam Khan, the former Union Minister of External affairs, Government of India, and maternal grandson of Dr. Zakir Hussain, the third President of India.
He studied in St. Xavier's High School, Patna, Bihar, B.A. (English and Jurisprudence), M.A., B.C.L. Educated at St. Stephen's College, Delhi and St Edmund Hall, Oxford University, Oxford, U.K. He also taught as Lecturer in Law at Trinity College, Oxford.
Political career
He started his political career as an Officer on Special Duty in the Prime Minister's Office, during the Prime Ministership of Mrs. Indira Gandhi in the early 1980s. Later he became the Deputy Minister of Commerce in the Government of India, and then Minister of State for External Affairs in the Government of India from 1991-1996. During this period he was the Member of Parliament from the Farrukhabad constituency in Uttar Pradesh. In the General Election of 2009 he was once again elected as Member of Parliament from Farrukhabad, winning as a candidate of the Indian National Congress, with 1,69, 351 votes. He became the Union Minister of State (with Independent Charges) of Corporate Affairs and Minority Affairs in the Government of India. He took over as Minister on Friday, 29 May 2009. In the Cabinet reshuffle of 12 July 2011, he was made Cabinet Minister for Law and Justice, and Minority Affairs in the Government of India.
Party Political Offices
He has been the President of the Uttar Pradesh Pradesh Congress Committee twice.
He was also the President of the Delhi Public School Society and Dr. Zakir Hussain Study Circle.
Political Views
Salman Khurshid appeared for SIMI, a group banned in India and frequently charged by Indian authorities with terrorist activities, as its defence lawyer, appealing the 2002 ban; in June 2006 the Supreme Court of India rejected the appeal noting "the appeal against the ban should be first argued before the tribunal established for the purposes". Asked about his appearance, Khurshid said :"I would refuse a client only when I am personally satisfied that taking up the case would go against the ethics of the profession. A lawyer has to appear for an accused. It is my constitutional duty. A party and the government too cannot pre-judge an organisation."
In 2009, incumbent president Sirajuddin Qureshi beat Salman Khurshid for the presidentship of India Islamic Cultural Centre. Campaign for the election was very intense which became high-profile with Salman's entry in the fray.
Enemy property bill
In 2010, he was instrumental in making the Govt of India introduce the Enemy Property Bill, which gives the pre-partition owners of immovable properties and assets, rights to the properties and assets as against the law from 1968 which handed over the properties to the Govt of India. Salman Khurshid, interestingly was the counsel for the Raja of Mahmudabad, MA Mohammad Khan, who crossed to Pakistan at the time of partition, in the apex court. He also led a delegation of Muslim MPs demanding a larger and wider scope for enemy property claims from across the border.
He started a new controversy in February 2012 when he claimed in Azamgarh that Sonia Gandhi cried after seeing pictures of Batla house encounter.
On February 13, 2012, The Hindu reported 'Union Law and Justice Minister and Congress leader Salman Khurshid, who challenged the Election Commission's authority to censure him for his remarks on a sub-quota for the minorities, has backtracked and regretted his statement. Mr. Khurshid had earlier asserted that he would stick to his stand even if the Commission “hangs me”.
Writings
He has been deeply involved in writing and acting in plays since his student days in Delhi and Oxford. He is the author of the play Sons of Babur, published by Rupa & Co., which has been staged, with Tom Alter in the lead role, at the Red Fort in Delhi.
Controversies
In a sting operation, TV Today revealed an alleged misappropriation of funds by Zakir Hussain Memorial Trust for physically challenged people associated with him and his wife Louise Khurshid. The ruling party Congress strongly defended its minister Salman Khurshid and social activist Arvind Kejriwal questioned this and alleged that the Trust misused the funds alloted by Government with the help of 34 documents with forged signatures. Comparing with the DLF-Vadra controversy responding which whole congress had come ahead to defend Mr. Vadra, Rajdeep Sardesai had tweeted Irony: when law min in dock, no UPA minister there to defend him. When Vadra in dock, cabinet ministers line up to defend.. This controversy made him lose his cool: In an address to his supporters, as shown on TV channels, Khurshid is heard saying (sic), "Let him come to Farrukhabad, let him come to Farrukhabad... but will he be able to return from Farrukhabad?". The Union law minister further says (sic) ... "I was told to work with a pen. I will continue to work with the pen, but time has come to also work with the blood."
See also
References
- ^ Biography Lok Sabha.
- "Khurshid nostalgic over Patna". The Times Of India. 21 October 2011.
- Security check The Indian Express - July 16, 2006
- Sirajuddin Qureshi wins IICC election
- Campaign for India Islamic Cultural Centre elections getting intensified
- Enemy Bill inimical to India's interests
- TV Today stands by its sting operation on Salman Khurshid : Politics News-IBNLive
- http://www.firstpost.com/politics/i-am-battling-allegations-to-save-the-country-khurshid-490576.html
- "Arvind Kejriwal takes on Salman Khurshid again, presents counter proof". The Indian Express. 15 October 2012. Retrieved 15 October 2012.
- IANS (13 October 2012). "Arvind Kejriwal announces indefinite agitation till Salman Khurshid is arrested". The Times of India. Retrieved 15 October 2012.
- Modi slams Congress for defending Vadra - India - DNA
- Congress defends Vadra, BJP demands judicial probe - Yahoo! News India
- Twitter / sardesairajdeep: Irony: when law min in dock
- Salman Khurshid issues veiled threat to Kejriwal; IAC seeks President's intervention - Times Of India
External links
- Salman Khurshid, webpage at Lok Sabha website
