Goemkarponn Desk
PANAJI: Congress and Goa Forward Party today has written to the Chief Election Commission of India (ECI) alleging that the caretaker government headed by BJP MLA Pramod Sawant has directed the Goa Police not to harass the candidates of the Indian National Congress and Goa Forward as well as candidates of other smaller parties.
“It has come to our attention that during the code of conduct of the Goa Assembly 2022 election, the caretaker government headed by BJP MLA Pramod Sawant has directed the Goa Police to harass the candidates of the Indian National Congress and Goa Forward as well as candidates of other smaller parties,” said GFP Leader Durgadas Kamat
He further said that according to their credible sources, the local police is under severe pressure to file false and fabricated cases against our candidates and their workers, call them to the police station under the pretext of questioning/inquiry, detain them for hours on the pretext of interrogation and thus mentally harass and torture them.
“One of our candidates was recently called by one police station in Canacona within two days of the code of conduct on the pretext of one such fabricated case. We are not opposed to any form of investigation but the fact that all this is happening in the run up to the election reeks of malicious conspiracy to derail our campaign,” they said
Both, Congress and GFP have demanded that directions be issued to the Goa Police that no non-election related FIRS be filed against any candidate and all such cases be dealt with after the elections.
“We further request you to direct the Goa Police not to call the candidates and their workers to the police station on non-election issues or retain them, and that such inquiries be conducted after the date of polling,” he added
