MARGAO, SEPT 12
Unfazed by the ongoing CBI investigations into the alleged immigration and money laundering racket, former tourism minister, Mickky Pacheco made his public presence in Colva and Benaulim on Sunday and blamed the Centre for ordering the probe as the IB reports reaching Delhi did not speak well of the ruling combination in Goa in the coming polls.
If Pacheco made his presence felt at Colva on Sunday morning to flag off an anti-plastic drive, he presided as a chief guest at an inter-ward football final at Benaulim in the presence of Dr Hubert Gomes, who has declared his candidature for the Benaulim seat. Others seated on the dais were Benaulim Sarpanch Carmelina Fernandes, Kentukee owner Mathew Diniz and Avertano Furtado, who is projected a candidate against PWD Minister, Churchill Alemao in Navelim.
Asserting that the Indian government has given consent to investigate into the alleged immigration racket, the former tourism minister has said the Centre is targeting him since the IB reports reaching Delhi speaks about the coming election going against the ruling combination in the State.
He, however, said the people of Goa will be the decision makers in the coming Assembly polls and will decide the fate of the ministers and MLAs in the hustings.
Asked whether the ruling Congress government is behind the CBI action against him in the immigration racket, Pacheco said “one has to understand that such investigations start either suo moto, or complaint from any quarter or consent from the government. In the instant case, the Centre has given the consent for investigations into the case. It is for the people to decide why this was done with what motive and with what interest”.
Replying to a question, he said the ruling government has decided to target him after IB reports reaching Delhi have gone against the ruling combination in the coming polls.
When asked whether the ongoing CBI investigations against him will go against him in the next hustings, Pacheco said “Everyone knows how the present government is being run by these people. I don’t want to comment. The people will decide on the next MLA and the next government”.
Declining to go into the CBI probe saying that he does not want to come into the ongoing investigations, Pacheco said “I know I am clean. I have no issue on that. I have spent 23 years in the US; I don’t have any issue as far as financial aspects are concerned. As an Indian citizen, I have to obey the Indian law. When I was a resident of the USA, I have followed that country’s law”.
Reiterating that he has not done anything illegal by recruiting hundreds of Goans overseas, Pacheco said “I am very much clear that I have not done anything illegal. If they feel that I have done so, I am ready to face any inquiry”.
