BJP alleges code violation by Congress during Sonia's rally

Panaji, May 27 (UNI) Alleging gross misuse of official machinery by the ruling Congress in organising a rally of party chief Sonia Gandhi yesterday, the BJP has demanded a thorough probe into the matter.

In a complaint to the chief electoral officer of Goa, the BJP questioned why the buses in which the workers were brought to the rally site, whose registration numbers were also provided, were not yet impounded for violation of the model code of conduct.

It further alleged that the government had misused the official machinery for securing the vehicles for transporting the public and the voters for the rally and asked whether the Congress had accounted for expenses incurred on this count.

Presenting a copy of the complaint to the mediapersons here today, party spokesman Rajiv Pratap Rudy sought stern action against Ms Savithri, wife of Quepem legislator Babu Kavlekar (Congress) who was caught red-handed while distributing money to voters.

''Initiating exemplary action against the accused would further strengthen the system of exposing such blatant misuse of money power by the Congress party,'' Mr Rudy said.

The BJP, in its memorandum, has also questioned whether the entire public meeting addressed by Sonia Gandhi was videographed so that the glaring violations could be easily detected including deployment of security forces in large numbers.

Meanwhile, the Election Commission has sought an explanation from the saffron party in connection with a video CD in circulation without the author and publisher's name printed on it, containing the speeches of former chief minister Manohar Parrikar in the State Legislative Assembly on various issues.

UNI