Staff Reporter

Panaji

The Goa Pradesh Congress Committee (GPCC) on Friday filed a complaint before the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO), Ramesh Verma, against Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant, and other BJP functionaries, accusing them of
spreading wrong information by distorting Congress South Goa Lok Sabha candidate Viriato Fernandes’ statement on the
Constitution.

GPCC president Amit Patkar said that Fernandes’ statement was twisted to suggest that he disrespected the Constitution. He said that by spreading the misinformation, “Modi and others have violated the model code of conduct” and requested immediate action in the matter.

Modi had referenced the alleged “anti-Constitution” speech during his rally in Chhattisgarh.

“Our candidate is a war veteran who served during the Kargil War and obviously has the highest respect for the Constitution. His speech is sought to be twisted and read out of context without even attempting to understand the context in which it was made, i.e. in the context of the demand for dual citizenship,” Patkar stated in the complaint.

“The video of the speech is in the public domain, and, if required, we will furnish a copy of the same,” he said.

The Congress in the complaint has named Modi, Sawant, state BJP president Sadanand Shet Tanavade, Dabolim MLA Mauvin Godhino, Mormugao MLA Sankalp Amonkar, Vasco MLA Daji Salkar, Margao MLA Digambar Kamat, and state BJP general secretary Damu Naik.

Fernandes’ statement that the Indian Constitution was forcefully imposed upon Goans when Goa was liberated from Portuguese rule has created a major controversy ahead of the parliamentary polls.