Punish Jose Philip: Benaulim constituency sarpanchas

Punish Jose Philip: Benaulim constituency sarpanchas 
HERALD REPORTER
MARGAO, OCT 29
Sarpanchas of the four village panchayats in Benaulim constituency has condemned the assault on MLA Mickky Pacheco by NCP Chief Jose Philip D’Souza and have urged Chief Minister Digambar Kamat to initiate stern action against the Revenue Minister.
In a memorandum signed by the Sarpanch of Benaulim, Colva, Betalbatim and Majorda, they told the Chief Minister that Jose Philip D’Souza is not fit to be a Minister in his cabinet. “Some time back, our MLA Mickky Pacheco was forced to resign for something he did not do or knew anything about and is still being targeted. How can Revenue Minister Jose Philip D’Souza be left free for this uncivilized act, where not only did he cause irreparable damage, but has also tarnished the image of our MLA”, they said, adding “if a Minister acts in such a brutal manner with another who was a former Minister and a MLA, what will be the fate of people like us”.
Saying that elected people need to set good examples to other people and not behave like the way the Revenue Minister Jose Philip D’Souza behaved, these Sarpanchas urged the Chief Minister to take strong cognizance of the criminal act and save Goa from such hooliganism.
“We are living in a democratic country and no India needs anybody’s permission to visit any place in India. Our MLA Mickky Pacheco had full right to visit Vasco city as and when he pleases. This mob mentality need to be curtailed. We do not want such representatives of the people o Goa”, they said, and appealed to the Chief Minister to ensure that his Cabinet Ministers behave sanely and as responsible representatives of the people.
Meanwhile, the Goan Obstinate Associates for Needy Society (GOANS) has demanded that Revenue Minister Jose Philip and his henchmen involved in the attack be arrested forthwith and allow the law to take its own course.
In a letter to the Superintendent of Police, South, GOANS secretary Freda D’Sa said the people of Vasco and its surrounding areas are living in fear of the Revenue Minister and his henchmen.
She demanded to know who has given Jose Philip the authority to take law into his own hands if he had come with money. “The Vasco police station was barely 20 meters away from the incident spot. Why did not he call the police and get Pacheco caught red handed. The answer is Jose Philip is trying to cover up his acts by coming up with fake theories”, She added.