Congress files complaint against PM Modi over spreading 'misinformation' about South Goa candidate Fernandes

The Congress filed a complaint against Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant, along with other BJP leaders on Friday (Apr 26) alleging that the saffron party spread "misinformation" about its South Goa candidate Viriato Fernandes.

Goa Congress President Amit Patkar filed a three-page complaint before Chief Electoral Officer Ramesh Verma.

"By the present complaint, we wish to bring to your kind notice a serious violation of the Model Code of Conduct by the members of the Bharatiya Janta Party and request immediate action in respect of the same. As you are aware Capt. Viriato Fernandes is our candidate for the General Election to the Lok Sabha 02 - South Goa parliamentary constituency," the Goa Pradesh Congress Committee stated.

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Certain persons belonging to the Bharatiya Janta Party are deliberately spreading mis- misinformation in the context of the speech made by our candidate. The said persons are attempting to twist and misinterpret the speech of our candidate to suggest that our candidate has disrespected the Constitution and/or to suggest that our candidate does not have respect for our Constitution," the complaint added.

The letter further stated that Fernandes served in the armed forces during the Kargil war and has the highest respect for the Constitution.

"The speech of our candidate is sought to be twisted and read out of context, without even attempting to understand the context in which it was made i.e. in the context of demand for dual citizenship. The video of the speech which is sought to be misinterpreted and used for spreading of misinformation is in the public domain and if required we will furnish a copy of the same," it stated.

Patkar further accused PM Modi of tossing Fernandes' speech as discourteous towards the Constitution while he was addressing a rally in Chhattisgarh.

"It is pertinent to note that Prime Minister Narendra Modi is also the party to the spread of such misinformation. The Prime Minister in a public speech in Chhattisgarh in the context of the speech of the candidate Capt. Viriato Fernandes, also very maliciously projected as if the speech of our candidate was to disrespect the Constitution of India," it stated.

(With inputs from agencies)