Jose Philip assaulted me: Mickky

Jose Philip assaulted me: Mickky
HERALD REPORTER
VASCO, OCT 26
Former tourism minister and Benaulim MLA Mickky Pacheco claimed that Revenue Minister Jose Philip D’Souza had assaulted him in the Vasco hotel, adding that the minister had acted like a “hooligan in a public place.”
Pacheco has demanded that D’Souza step down on moral grounds for assaulting his own party MLA in a public place.
Shortly after he was allegedly assaulted by Revenue Minister Jose Philip D’Souza and his supporters, Pacheco left for Chicalim where he and his supporters met at the Chicalim junction.
Speaking to reporters near the Chicalim garden, Pacheco along with Goa Fishing Boat Owner Association President Simon Pereira and Chicalim Sarpanch Raul D’Costa claimed he was assaulted by D’Souza along with his “goons.”
“I was having dinner along with my friends. Can’t I have food in a public place,” asked Pacheco.
“My friends from Vasco and I were having a get-together in Vasco, when suddenly D’Souza barged in the hotel and started acting like a hooligan. He started assaulting me along with his goons,” said Pacheco.
The Benaulim MLA refuted claims that he had gone to Vasco to distribute money to D’Souza’s rivals.
“Did D’Souza and his supporters find any money in the hotel? Let him prove that I was there in Vasco to distribute money. For the last five months, my bank accounts have been frozen and the entire state knows about this,” said Pacheco.
“Not a single candidate in the fray for the council election was present in the hotel along with me. Hence, the question of me supporting any candidate in council election doesn’t arise,” said Pacheco.
“Does it suit a minister to act like a hooligan in public places? I urge the people of Vasco to show such a person a lesson that hooliganism is not tolerated and dynasty politics is not acceptable,” said Pacheco.
“D’Souza is frustrated that his panel in the council election is losing its grip, due to which he has become a frustrated man,” added Pacheco.
When asked if he would complain about the incident to the high command, he said: “I have informed Party President Sharad Poawar, who asked me not to file a police complaint against D’Souza, as they have assured that they would initiate action in the matter,” informed Pacheco.
“I demand that D’Souza step down on moral grounds for assaulting his own party MLA in a public place,” said Pacheco.
Meanwhile, the brawl between D’Souza and Pacheco spread across the country, with NCP national leader P A Sangma calling on Pacheco to enquire in the matter.
When asked for his plan of action if the party high command failed to take cognizance of the issue, he said that he would not take the insult lying down.
“I know how to tackle D’Souza,” said Pacheco.
Pacheco later proceeded to the Vasco police station and a Vasco police team took Pacheco for a medical examination at Chicalim Cottage Hospital.