Finding himself at the centre of yet another controversy related to intimidation, Nuvem MLA Francisco (Mickky) Pacheco, in a no-holds-barred media briefing, accused singer-songwriter Francis De Tuem of defamation.
This is not the first time Francis has targeted Pacheco and the MLA recalled how the tiatr artiste had earlier used the ‘rattol’ poising case against him, which he said had gone no further. He also said that Francis had mentioned the money laundering case which is sub judice and questioned Francis’ right to use this matter when the case had not reached any outcome.
Pacheco listed out other allegations made against him but took personal offence that Francis had dragged his children, mother and made allegations about his personal life. He reiterated that he had no issues with cantaram or tiatrits, even if they were about politicians, but said they should not be personal.
He raised queries about Francis’s own personal life and said that the person who points two fingers has five pointing back and recalled how Francis had assaulted tiatrist Osvy Viegas whose song had offended Francis and criticised Francis for being a hypocrite.
Pacheco said he was not in favour of censorship but called on the tiatr fraternity, especially from Salcete, to have an internal understanding wherein they should follow a code and make it clear to artistes where they should draw the line.
He pointed out that there were many tiatr songs about him and he had never had an issue with them, but was reacting now as Francis was spreading false rumours and making personal allegations. He said it was not just him, but that public and religious leaders were also upset about this.
He recalled how he had once sponsored a play by Roseferns, who he described as a good director, but felt that Roserfens was now allowing his image to get spoilt by giving Francis a platform.
Asked if he condoned the act of disrupting the play, Pacheco offered no apology and said that it was not his supporters or his people who did it, but sympathizers, and that they had not attacked the tiatrist but a group of over 50 people had asked him to stop singing the song.
Asked if he condoned their act of going to the greenroom, Pacheco claimed they did not go to the greenroom but behind the curtain and he stuck to his defence that Francis was wrong in trying to malign his image.
