Alemao issued show cause notice for obstructing official on duty

Panaji, May 16 (UNI) South Goa district Collector Santosh Vaidya today issued a show cause notice to Urban Development Minister Joquim Alemao for allegedly obstructing and challenging an official videographer from taking shots of preparations for a rally for the June 2 elections to the Goa Legislative Assembly.

Mr Vaidya, who is also the district election officer, told UNI from Margao headquarters that the minister has been asked to reply the notice by 1500 hrs tomorrow and suitable ''criminal legal action'' would be initiated after that in due course.

Mr Vaidya initiated the action immediately after he received a complaint from the concerned returning officer who said Mr Alemao obstructed an official from discharging his duties by taking shots of preparations for an election rally at Alemao' House yesterday.

He, however, pooh-poohed reports that the minister had slapped a lady returning officer.

It might recalled that election authorities had appointed videographers to record all election-related actions including rallies or processions and meetings to assess election expenditure incurred by respective candidates. The election expenditure should not exceed Rs 5 lakh per candidate.

UNI