Goa Police quiz AAP leaders over rally

Goa Police on Tuesday grilled four AAP leaders, including Dinesh Waghela, chairman of the party's central disciplinary committee, over a public rally to protest against Tourism Minister Dilip Parulekar's 'inappropriate' comments on gang-rape.

The four, who were issued summons by police on Monday, were detained at the Saligao police station, 10 km from Panaji, for over four hours through Tuesday afternoon.

According to a first information report, the four AAP members were booked for unlawful assembly, criminal trespass, wrongful restraint and breach of peace.

Police Inspector Rajesh Kumar said the AAP members were summoned in connection with the FIR filed by Parulekar's police guard. "It is a routine formality," he said.

The Aam Aadmi Party termed the police action a "blatant misuse of government machinery by the BJP-led government of Goa to intimidate those raising legitimate questions against the anarchy and misgovernance.

"It is shameful that police have acted against people who were peacefully protesting against the cheap comments made by a minister who is in charge of the women and child development ministry," Waghela told reporters, after his statement was recorded at the police station.

On Sunday, AAP workers had organised a rally to Parulekar's residence to protest against his comments on gangrape victims.

Parulekar had triggered controversy by calling the gang-rape of two women escorts by five men last week a "stunt" and said such "minor things" were bound to happen in a tourism friendly state like Goa.

Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar has rapped Parulekar for his comments, while the minister said he has taken his words back.