The video shows Kishor Shet, a councillor from Ward No. 3 in the Canacona Municipal Council, on a chair and being given a milk bath by his supporters at the Mallikarjuna temple in Canacona. (YouTube image)
A video clip of a councillor having a milk bath after getting elected on a BJP-supported municipal panel has triggered a bout of sparring between the Congress and the ruling BJP in Goa.
The video shows Kishor Shet, a councillor from Ward No. 3 in the Canacona Municipal Council, on a chair and being given a milk bath by his supporters at the Mallikarjuna temple in Canacona after he was declared a winner on October 27.
Stating that the video showed how insensitive the BJP was to the reality, the Congress demanded action against the councillor.
"Today, only BJP leaders can afford a milk bath. The common man finds it difficult to even buy milk. We cannot afford public representatives wasting milk at a time when people are suffering due to high food prices," Congress spokesperson Sunil Kawthankar told IANS on Monday.
Mr Shet in his clarification said his supporters were only observing the Indian custom 'Dudh Abhishek'.
"My supporters were happy and were following an Indian custom which is very popular."
Asked to comment on the video and the charge made by the Congress, BJP state vice president Wilfred Mesquita told IANS: "He (Shet) has said he was following a custom to appease the gods. We are yet to know whether god was really appeased by his act or not."