A video purportedly showing Goa minister Vijai Sardesai having an argument with a fisherwoman in Margao town and allegedly using derogatory words against her has gone viral on social media, with an NGO filing a complaint of molestation against him today.
The Agriculture Minister, however, alleged that his conversation with the woman was "maliciously interpreted".
His Goa Forward Party (GFP) also filed a complaint with the Cyber Crime Cell, in which it alleged that the video has been "doctored".
The purported video shows Sardesai arguing with the fisherwoman in Margaon market and allegedly using derogatory words against her and Goans.
Savera, an NGO working in the field of women's welfare, filed a complaint against Sardesai with the Women's Police Station in Panaji accusing him of outraging the modesty of the fisherwoman and insulting her and the Goans.
"In the video that has gone viral on social media, Vijai Sardesai is making vulgar action while talking to a woman, which results in outraging her modesty and insulting her and the Goans," the complaint filed by Savera chief Tara Kerkar says.
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"Sardesai is a public servant and this kind of behaviour in public is highly condemnable," it says.
When contacted, a Women's Police Station official confirmed that it has received the complaint.
GFP vice president Durgadas Kamat later filed a complaint with Cyber Crime in which he alleged that the video was shot and circulated just to defame the minister and stop him from undertaking anydevelopment work.
"The video has been doctored. We are ready to provide the viral video which has come to us through different sources and the mobile numbers which have circulated the edited malicious clips," he said.
In a statement, Sardesai said, "I am utterly shocked and appalled by the deliberate and malicious interpretation of a conversation that I had while reviewing the progress of the Fish Market. The gesture I made while saying 'You write about it' has been intentionally misconstrued to defame me and discredit my work.