Cong shows Goa CM's remarks on mining in campaign; angers BJP

Opposition Congress in Goa has targeted Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar by exhibiting his television interview as part of its poll campaign, in which he had said that he was instrumental in stopping the mining activity in the state.
BJP has strongly objected to the screening of the CD and complained to the Election Commission (EC) calling it a violation of Model Code of Conduct.
The CD of the television interview that Parrikar had given during an award function in Delhi is being extensively screened by the Congress in its election campaign in the mining belt that has been seething over the closure of the iron ore export.

Parrikar, during the interview, had said that he was instrumental in stopping mining activity one month before the Supreme Court order.
"The CD is provocative, malicious and emotive," Party's Goa spokesman Wilfred Mesquita told the EC.
Taking cognisance of the matter, the Chief Electoral Officer has already referred the complaint to the Returning Officers (ROs) of both the Lok Sabha constituencies asking them for necessary action.

"This may be the same CD for which you (EC) had rejected the permission or new CD being shown without your clearance," Mesquita has said in the formal complaint to the EC.
The party has demanded disqualification of the Congress candidates, where the CD was shown and to arrest of Goa Pradesh Congress Committee President (John Fernandes).

However, Congress party has refused to accept that the CD violated the Model Code of Conduct.
"We are just exposing the lie of the chief minister, who now is going around telling people that it was Congress which stopped the mining," Fernandes told PTI.
He claimed that even if the EC refuses permission, the CD can be screened as it is not produced by Congress and the content was already shown on television.