EC gives a clean chit to Goa govt on memo issue

The Election Commission on Friday gave a clean chit to the Goa government on the controversial issue of a memo allegedly issued by a police officer to his constables asking them to keep a check on the movements of opposition leaders and parties, saying there was no "involvement from higher-ups".

"Our inquiry shows that it was done at the personal level and there was no involvement of higher ups in the matter", Election Commissioner B B Tandon told reporters in an informal meeting during his brief visit to the state.

The Commission had set up a two-man inquiry committee following complaints and documentary proof from the opposition Congress that ASI Y K Yeram of Mapusa CID had allegedly issued a memo to two of his constables asking them to keep a check on the activities of Congress, NCP and also on opposition leaders like Jitendra Deshprabhu and Dayanand Narvekar.

Tandon, however, said a final decision would be taken only after co-relating the inquiry report conducted by DIG, Goa with the report of the inquiry committee set up by the EC.

Expressing confidence that an adequate number of forces have been deployed in the state for the election process, Tandon declined to give the exact number of CRPF personnel.

When asked if the Election Commission had asked the Petroleum Ministry to review prices, Tandon categorically denied it saying "we have never asked them to do so".