The AAP in Goa on Tuesday accused the BJP-led state government of "intimidation" after three of its workers who protested against Tourism Minister Dilip Parulekar's comments in a gang-rape case were issued summons by the police.Mario Cordeiro, Moses Coutinho and Shripad Pednekar - who participated in a public rally on Sunday against the minister's comments - were summoned by Saligao police station officials late on Monday, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) said in a statement here. "This is blatant misuse of government machinery by the Goa government to intimidate those raising legitimate questions against anarchy and misgovernance," AAP state secretary Valmiki Naik said.
The summons were issued under Section 41 of Criminal Procedure Code. Parulekar triggered a controversy, calling a "stunt" the gang rape of two Delhi women by five men last week and said that such "minor things" were bound to happen in a tourism state like Goa. "I have said it earlier, I am saying it again, wherever tourism activity flourishes such minor incidents happen," Parulekar had said, adding: "The boys are 'nadaan' (naive) and they have cases of small crimes registered against them. This will not happen in the future."
Goa Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar on Sunday rapped Parulekar for his controversial comments, with the minister saying a day earlier that he had taken his words back. Asked about the summons, a police spokesperson said it was a standard procedure following registration of a complaint. "The summons were issued after a complaint by one Virendra Naik at Saligao police station under sections pertaining to unlawful assembly, criminal trespass, wrongful restraint and breach of peace of the Indian Penal Code," the spokesperson said.