Your statements violate norms: Election Commission warns Manohar Parrikar

NEW DELHI: The Election Commission on Thursday warned Defence Minister and senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Manohar Parrikar to be more careful while addressing election rallies.
Rejecting claims of the senior BJP leader that the CD carrying his purported remarks has been tampered with and that the translation of his statement from Konkani to English is faulty, the Commission said leaders should be careful in their public utterances.
"...there is no objection, if someone roams there with Rs 500. But you should keep in mind that vote shall come to lotus (BJP's election symbol) only," the Commission order quoted Parrikar as saying on January 29 in Chimbel, Goa while addressing a public rally.
The poll panel said all leaders, especially those who occupy high constitutional positions, are expected to ensure and promote the sanctity of electoral process.
"Public utterances by such persons which even remotely give the indication of condoning act of accepting bribe in connection with election are not acceptable as it could amount to encouraging bribery in election which, apart from being an electoral offence, is also a corrupt practice," the election watchdog told the Union minister.
It said Parrikar's remarks violate the norms.
On February 1, EC had issued a show cause notice to Parrikar for his bribery remarks when he told residents of a slum near Panaji that it's okay to accept Rs 500 from candidates to attend rallies, but they should cast votes for the BJP only.
Parrikar, a day after, responded to a complaint filed against him for violating the model code of conduct when he said "let Election Commission investigate complaints".