PANAJI: Noted singer Hema Sardesai has resigned as the special icon appointed by the Election Commission of India for the state assembly polls to be held on February 4. Chief electoral officer Kunal has clarified that the singer is not affiliated to any political party and that her resignation is under examination.
Sardesai in her letter of resignation as the state icon of the ECI said, “I would like to mention that I am not a member of any political party and never attended any political rally, and had expressed my opinion to Manohar Parrikar on issues related to Goa. Same concerns, after meeting with Manohar bhai, I had shared on my Facebook page. Manohar bhai was chief minister of Goa and later on became Defence Minister of India.”
Sardesai maintained that as Parrikar is a public figure she had discussed the issues relating to Goa with him.
Kunal told ‘The Navhind Times’ that they have received her resignation letter following a complaint alleging her connection with the BJP.
“But she has claimed that she is not a member of any political party and had met Parrikar discussing Goan issues. Her views on language issue published in the print media have been quoted out of context and therefore we are examining the matter,” he said.
“We appointed her as an icon as she has wider appeal since she is a Bollywood singer and has sung in more than 100 movies,” Kunal said.
Sardesai in her letter said that she believed in the cause of justice and equity and had even fought with the current government after priest-turned activist Fr Bismarque Dias was “killed and proper investigation into the case was not conducted”.
“My public fight with the government on this issue was widely covered in the media, which is in public knowledge. In the very beginning, I had honestly told you Kunalji that I am related to many Goan politicians from various parties as Goa is a very small society and everyone is related to everyone,” she said.
“I believe in the institution of Election Commission of India and I accepted to be an icon as I felt my involvement and espousal for cause of ethical voting and maximum participation will ensure democratic empowerment of Goan masses,” the noted singer said in the letter.
Shedding light on what triggered her to resign, Sardesai said, “I am deeply disturbed by the media report coming on the basis of a complaint filed. I will not say anything against the complainant except that he is a habitual complainant and filed complaints on all matters under the sun. As far as the context of the complaint is concerned, my conscience is clean and I am reiterating that I am not a member of any political party and I am not supporting any political party. My posts on Facebook are in open domain and I put the issues I discussed with Manohar bhai (on it). I am deleting those posts as they may cause misunderstanding in the minds of the people as Election Commission finds me suitable to be a state icon…”
Sardesai said that she stands for the cause of Goa and would continue doing so “being a daughter of this land”.
Sardesai stated that “I still feel that my continued presence as the state icon may affect the spotless image of the Election Commission as well as (of) you, Kunalji, as the voting for the Goa assembly is quite nearby… So I tender my resignation as the state icon.”
The noted singer, however, said that she would continue working for poll panel’s goal of ethical voting and maximum participation, and would continue motivating the youth and all sections of the society to come out and vote in large numbers on February 4.