EC probe into circulation of 'communal material' at PM's rally

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's election meeting in Goa on Wednesday has got embroiled in a controversy with the Election Commission launching a probe into alleged distribution of "communal material" at the venue.

Hundreds of people attending Singh's rally at Sankhalim, about 40km from here, were allegedly handed out the special supplement of a weekly magazine containing communally sensitive material.

"The complaint has been referred to the media monitoring committee of the EC and commission officials are looking into it," Joint Chief Electoral Officer, Narayan Navti said here.

The supplement contained an appeal to not vote for the "communal opposition which believes in massacre of Christians and Muslims". BJP is the main opposition party in the state assembly.

The EC, apart from receiving complaints from independent sources, also got one from BJP following which a probe has been ordered.

The meeting on February 29 was marred by a technical glitch when the public address system conked out without the Prime Minister realising it for some time and continuing his address.

Senior Congress leaders from the state were seen running to set right the fault which was rectified after about 30 minutes as Singh watched the proceedings patiently.