The Congress has demanded that Goa deputy Chief Minister Vijai Sardesai be booked for sedition for his recent statement urging “youngsters to weaponise themselves”.

In a letter to the Election Commission late on Monday evening, Vivek D’Silva, North Goa district Youth Congress president, said Mr. Sardesai’s comments exhorting the youth to weaponise themselves to force the State government to fulfil their demands clearly showed “an intent to wage war against government duly instituted under the Constitution of India, and also against the people of Goa”.

The statement, Mr. D’Silva said, attracts Section 124A of the Indian Penal Code. He further wrote that this was also an indirect attempt to threaten voters in Panaji constituency which is going for polls on May 19.

“The said words have been made by Mr. Sardesai with intent to excite dissatisfaction and to create hatred amongst the people of Goa against the government,” the complaint stated.