PANAJI
A day after Election Commission directed State election officials to proceed with an FIR against Arvind Kejriwal, Goa Forward cried foul over Union Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar's comments at a recent meeting in Chimbel.
Goa Forward spokesperson Durgadas Kamat, while accusing Parrikar of promoting corrupt voting practices, wrote to the Chief Electoral Officer of Goa asking him to investigate Parrikar’s statements.
In a video clip of the speech at a corner meeting Parrikar is quoted to have said, “…I understand if someone organises a rally and you take Rs 500 for moving around with (the candidate), that is not a problem. But when you vote, choose the lotus (BJP’s poll symbol). This you must remember.”
While the Election Commission has promised to look into the complaint, CEO Kunal said, “Parrikar being a star campaigner, we would have to give our report to the ECI. We have received a complaint along with a video clip of the speech, which we will have to review before we give our report to the Election Commission.”
Earlier in the day the Goa Forward spokesperson brought to light the recent Kejriwal comments that came in for EC censure. "You had initiated action against Kejriwal when he had made a similar statement. On behalf of Goa Forward Party we urge you to kindly investigate the matter and direct the Police to register FIR in this matter against Parrikar at the earliest,” Kamat said in his complaint to the election commission.
Officials of the election commission have, however, confided that since Kejriwal was censured for similar remarks, similar action could be contemplated against Parrikar.
The Aam Aadmi Party in the State however, said they continue to believe that their leader has done nothing wrong, but that if the Election Commission so desires, the Prime Minister’s Office should grant sanction to the Election Commission to book a case against him.
Kejriwal himself had tweeted in the morning: “Will Election Commission dare take action against Parrikar... I urge PMO (Prime Minister's Office) to allow Election Commission to act against Parrikar," Kejriwal tweeted on Monday.
Kejriwal had earlier alleged that the poll panel was acting on the directions of the PMO.
