Goa’s Chief Electoral Officer has sought a detailed report from the North and South Collectors on the filed by Adv. Aires Rodrigues against Chief Minister Pramod Sawant and the BJP for violating the Model Code of Conduct in organizing public functions in memory of late Manohar Parrikar.
While the Collectors have been directed to report on whether any violation of the Model Code of Conduct was detected, the Chief Electoral Officer has sought to know from the General Administration department at the Secretariat whether any government machinery is used in these programmes.
Adv. Rodrigues in his complaint on Tuesday had alleged that since the death of Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar on March 17th, the Goa Government led by Chief Minister Pramod Sawant and the BJP were in rank violation of the Model Conduct of Conduct which is currently in force been seeking to obtain unlawful political mileage at the cost of the late Manohar Parrikar.
Adv. Rodrigues in his complaint also drew the attention of the Chief Electoral Officer to the public statement made by Chief Minister Pramod Sawant that Parrikar’s ‘asthi kalash’ programme will help in BJP’s huge win.
Adv. Rodrigues further stated that the current so called condolence meetings being held across Goa in memory of Manohar Parrikar were infact BJP campaign meetings and that the party by ferrying his ashes across the State was trying to illegally bolster the sagging image of the party.
Pointing out that the BJP was also publicizing those private visits of dignitaries to the residence of late Manohar Parrikar, Adv. Rodrigues in his complaint stated that this stage managed cheap drama was an attempt to yield undue publicity for the BJP in rank violation of the Model Code of Conduct.
Stating that it was incumbent on the Election Commission to ensure that elections are absolutely free and fair and that the Model Code of Conduct was not violated in any way whatsoever, Adv. Rodrigues sought immediate action in the matter.
