Naik demands apology from Nirupam over poll complaint

Former Petroleum Minister Ram Naik today hit out at Congress MP Sanjay Nirupam saying that a "fake" complaint of breach of election code had been filed against him.
"Nirupam had lodged a fake complaint against me as I had exposed him for under-utilising his MP fund," Naik told reporters here today.
Naik said that since the Returning Officer has dismissed the case against him, Nirupam should now apologise.
"Nirupam had been clamouring against the BJP and me. Now would he apologise to as his complaint is dismissed by the Returning Officer," Naik asked.
Naik had earlier accused six MPs of Congress-NCP in Mumbai of under utilising their funds. He had alleged that though they were all entitled to utilise funds of Rs 19 crore, they utilised only Rs 11.85 crore, "thereby depriving the respected constituencies of development works worth Rs 7.15 crore."

He said voters would teach Nirupam a lesson in the forthcoming elections.
Responding to questions, Naik downplayed former BJP leader Jaswant Singh filing his nomination as an independent candidate from Barmer in Rajasthan. " Even soldiers retire. We want new people to join the party. Discipline is necessary to run a party," he said.