Government has nothing to do with CBI raids, says CM

MARGAO, SEPT 9
Chief Minister, Digambar Kamat has once again declined to comment on the CBI raids on the residence of the Benaulim MLA, even as the United Goans Democratic Party (UGDP) slammed the government for witch hunting against the former Tourism Minister.
When newsmen sought comments from the Chief Minister, he said the raids are not handled by his government, adding that he has no idea what is going on at the residence of the former Tourism Minister. “Let me make it clear that the raids are not handled by my government. I have no idea what’s going on”, he said.
Meanwhile, UGDP Secretary General Anacleto Viegas on Thursday called upon the Congress government to stop the witch hunting of the Benaulim MLA who has been the embodiment of benevolence for the people of South Goa. “His faults may be many and yet his credentials are above board. There is none among us who is a paragon of virtue, for there is little bad in the best of us and a little good in the worst of us”, he said.
Viegas said the Congress government is now attempting to cripple Pacheco financially by damaging his character after they failed in its attempts to rope him  in the Nadia suicide case. “Goans will not be fooled by the propaganda of money laundering, for we know first hand that those who serve abroad have huge savings and those who do business in the west are multi-millionaires. Mickky has been going business abroad for the last 30 years much before he was elected as the MLA. It is only with his money power that he was able to defeat the Benaulim strongman in the first elections”, he said.
Viegas said that in the past there were attempts to use the CBI against opponents of the Congress, which attempts have not been successful, adding that these attempts will only help Pacheco to be elevated from a clay statue to an idol of worship.
“The Congress appears to be jittery with the growing popularity of the Mickky Pacheco who is held in high esteem by his constituents. One who provides employment opportunities abroad is the real leader of the people, for none and none can match his stature in this regard”, he said, while asking the Congress to stop forthwith stop harassment of the Benaulim MLA.