EC issues notice to Parrikar over his bribery remarks

Defence Minister and senior Bharatiya Janata Party leader Manohar Parrikar was on Wednesday served a show cause notice by the Election Commission for his reported bribery remarks made in Goa which the poll panel found prima facie violative of the model code.

Responding to complaints filed by the Goa Forward Party and Aam Aadmi Party convener Arvind Kejriwal, and after perusing a report submitted by the local election authorities, the commission has asked Parrikar to file his reply by Friday afternoon failing which it said it will "take a decision without further reference to you"."

"...there is no problem if somebody roams around after taking Rs 500, but just vote for the lotus (BJP's poll symbol)," the EC notice quoted the defence minister as having told the electorate in Chimbel, Goa, on January 29.

Reminding the former Goa Chief Minister of the provisions of the Model Code for elections, it said his remarks amounted to "abetting and promoting electoral offence of bribery".

Goa, along with Punjab, is going for assembly polls on March 4.