21 Jun 2018 | 06:22am IST
Video of ‘argument’ with woman goes viral, embroils Vijai in row
Activist Tara files complaint against minister for ‘outraging modesty’ of fisher woman; GFP alleges that the video has been doctored to defame Vijai
PANJIM: Town and Country Planning Minister Vijai Sardesai has been tangled in a controversy over an alleged gesture during an inspection of the South Goa Planning & Development Authority fish market.
A video of the incident where Vijai and a fisher woman are seen arguing at SGPDA retail fish market at Fatorda went viral on social media.
This video has prompted NGO Savera’s Tara Kerkar file a police complaint wherein she complains, “In a video that has become viral on social media Minister Vijai Sardesai is making vulgar action when talking to a lady which results in outraging the modesty of a woman and insulting her and Goans. He is a public servants and this kind of gesture in public is highly condemnable.”
The police have not registered a FIR, but a police source said they will inquire into the allegations before taking further steps.
Later, on Wednesday evening, Goa Forward Party Vice President (GFP) Durgadas Kamat filed a complaint before the Cyber Cell alleging that the video has been doctored to defame Sardesai.
The complaint further says that the entire shooting of the video and its circulation has been to defame the minister and stop him from undertaking the developmental and social work. It is also to stop him from doing his duty as a minister.
Meanwhile, on Wednesday evening Vijai released a statement on the social media expressing his utter shock regarding this video and said that he is appalled by the “deliberate and malicious interpretation of a conversation” that he had while reviewing the progress of the SGPDA fish market.
“The gesture I made while saying “you write about it” has been intentionally misconstrued to defame me and discredit my work. At no point was any gesture made to insult anyone nor to hurt anyone’s sentiments even though the issue of feasibility of the fish trays was being hotly discussed and was later amicably resolved with leaders of fish vendors as the SGPDA has been open for changes to meet the requirements of the vendors,” said the text sent by the Minister in his defence.
