Haryana minister gets notice over Rakhi ‘freebies’

Ambala, August 24

The Returning Officer today issued a show-cause notice to Haryana Minister of State for Transport and Ambala City MLA Aseem Goel for allegedly violating the model code of conduct.

According to the notice, a complaint was received from the Election Commission that the minister had distributed bags, suits and wall clocks carrying Goel’s photos without the approval of the poll authorities. Videos and pictures of a few women carrying bags containing suits, diaries, pens and wall clocks have gone viral on the social media. Many gifts carry pictures of Chief Minister Nayab Saini and Prime Minister Narendra Modi also. These were allegedly distributed after the Rakhi festival.

In a video, a woman was seen claiming that she was given some bags containing the gifts, which she handed over to other women.

However, no picture or video of the minister or any BJP functionary distributing the gifts has surfaced so far.

Returning Officer-cum-SDM, Ambala City, Darshan Kumar, said: “A notice has been issued to Goel, but he has denied the charge. His response and our report will be submitted to the Election Commission for further action. No other violation of the model code has come to light so far.”