Election Commission today served a show cause notice to Defence Minister and senior BJP leader Manohar Parrikar over his bribery remarks and has been asked to reply to the notice before February 3.
Responding to complaints filed by the Goa Forward Party and AAP 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.
(With inputs from PTI)
