Team Herald
PANJIM: A random survey undertaken by the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has revealed that a majority of the people are against the pardoning of convicted MLA Francisco (Mickky) Pacheco.
The party that carried out the survey in areas of Panjim, Mapusa, Ponda, Canacona and Valpoi revealed that 94 percent were against the release of the former minister on pardon while only six percent said the minister should be spared.
Speaking to media persons, party ad hoc secretary Valmiki Naik said it was an exercise members had undertaken to gauge the general perception among people.
“According to us, the Cabinet by giving a green light to the pardon is trying to be bigger than the Supreme Court. This is an important issue and we wanted to know what the people thought,” he said.
Party members asked 422 people a series of three questions: whether they supported the decision of the government to pardon the MLA, whether the Governor should give her consent to the petition and whether they would pardon Pacheco.
Mario Lopes, party member who took part in questioning people said most people were wondering if ministers would insist on any of them receiving pardon for crimes they may have committed. Others said that today it was Pacheco; tomorrow the same would be expected if any other minister was involved.
“The people of Goa overwhelmingly were of the strong opinion that the law should be the same for all, and a convicted criminal should not be pardoned, just because he is an MLA,” said Lopes.
A delegation of the AAP had earlier this week visited the Governor’s residence to discuss the matter with her. Naik said the Governor paid attention to what they had to say and knows that a lot of people are against the decision to grant pardon to the minister.
