EC notice to Parrikar for flouting poll code

The Election Commission on Thursday held that Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar had flouted the model code of conduct while campaigning for BJP candidates in poll-bound Goa.

The poll panel concluded that remarks made by Parrikar at Chimbel in Goa on January 29 was tantamount to provoking people to accept bribes for voting, and that he violated the model code of conduct by making such remarks.

“All leaders, especially those who occupy high constitutional positions, are expected to ensure and promote the sanctity of the electoral process,” the EC observed in its order on Thursday. “Public utterances by such persons, which even remotely give the indication of a condoning act of accepting bribes in connection with an election, are not acceptable as it could amount to encouraging bribery in an election which, apart from being an electoral offence, is also a corrupt practice,” the poll panel stated in a communiqué to the defence minister.

The commission advised Parrikar to “be more circumspect and careful in future”.

It had on February 1 issued the notice after the defence minister was accused of “deliberately and intentionally” instigating the public to take bribes for voting and of, thereby, abetting the offence of bribery during the electoral process by making a statement at a “corner meeting” in Goa.

“....Now somebody will give you two thousand rupees, thousand rupees, three thousand rupees. Calculate it. We give one thousand five hundred per month,” Parrikar has said.