Notes-for-votes row: Jaswant unapologetic for doling out cash

A day after he was caught on camera for doling out money to villagers during an election meeting in Barmer (Rajasthan), Senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Jaswant Singh remained unapologetic. As per the TV reports, a defiant Jaswant Singh said, "It's my duty to help poor people." The administration of Rajasthan's Barmer district has sent a preliminary report to the EC in this regard, officials said today.

A day after he was caught on camera for doling out money to villagers during an election meeting in Barmer (Rajasthan), Senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Jaswant Singh remained unapologetic.

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The senior BJP leader said, "It is my duty to help poors."

As per the TV reports, Singh lashed out at the Congress, saying, "If Congress thinks helping poor is a crime, I cannot help it, I'll continue to help poor people."

The administration of Rajasthan's Barmer district has sent a preliminary report to the Election Commission on the distribution of money by Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Jaswant Singh, officials said on Wednesday.

"We have sent a preliminary factual report to the Election Commission and will act as per the instructions of the commission," Ravi Jain, district collector of Barmer, told IANS.

Earlier on Tuesday, Jaswant Singh was caught on camera distributing money during an election meeting in Gajaria village of Barmer.

"The tehsildar (collector) of the area had filed a report of this incident," said Jain.

Official sources said the administration has charged the BJP leader with three offences - money distribution, distribution of food packets and promise to install hand pumps - in its report to the Election Commission.

In the video clip telecast by news channels, Jaswant Singh and BJP national vice-president Kailash Meghwal were shown giving money to a woman at the Gajaria poll rally.