Union Minister Salman Khurshid found some support from his ministerial colleague M Veerappa Moily, who argued on Friday that he made the statement on sub-quota as a political leader and this should have been considered by the Election Commission before censuring him

"Some of the times...as political leaders we give statements," the Corporate Affairs Minister told reporters in reply to question on the EC move.

Moily, who headed the Law Ministry before Khurshid, said the latter made the statement not as a Minister but as a "political party...political leader".

"That's a matter (Khurshid making the statement as a politician; not as a Minister) which has to be considered by the Election Commission of India," he said.

Moily hastened to add that he would not like to comment on the Election Commission notice to Khurshid, saying the EC has done its duty. "Appropriate reply will be given by Salman Khurshid," he added.

Khurshid was censured by the Election Commission for violating the model code of conduct.

While campaigning for his wife Louise, a Congress candidate from Farrukhabad Assembly constituency in Uttar Pradesh, Khurshid had announced that his party would increase the sub-quota for minorities to nine per cent, out of the 27 per cent reservation of OBCs.