Ruling government is already facing lots of controversy over the issue of Pardon to Mickky Pacheco, there is no doubt that they are openly supporting the Parole and Pardon of Mickky on the pretext of 26 thousand people of his constituency who needs his presence in the assembly to expedite the pending work of his constituency. It may be true by and large but the opposition is against this role of the ruling government. In such situation the statement of Deputy Chief Minister Francis D’Souza whereby he called the offence of Pacheco is minor saying “Slapping a government servant is a Minor Offence” is now fueling up the issue.
According to the news published by the national daily NDTV “Deputy Chief Minsiter Francis D’Souza has justified the role of government to seek the pardon for their former cabinet colleague, who is presently undergoing 6 month jail term at Sada Sub jail in Vasco in government servant assault case saying the Slapping a government servant just a minor offence and one should not make an issue out of it” the statement of D’souza has been considered to be highly controversial by national and local media.
“The cabinet has approved the release of Mickky Pacheco. It is a pardon. According to the list of offences in the IPC it is a minor offence,” D’Souza said. He also defended his government’s support for a pardon for Pacheco, saying the law has to be more reformative than punitive. It has to be recalled that on Thursday this week Goa Cabinet under the leadership of Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar had unanimously recommended pardon for Mickky Pacheco and the mercy petition had been forwarded to the governor of Goa Mrudula Sinha for the final approval. According to the sources the petition was signed by the entire group of ruling government legislature.
Pacheco has already served two months out of his six month of sentence in the jail and according to the privileges allotted to the MLAs he sought the parole to attend the ongoing assembly by submitting over 100 questions in “Public Interest” being people’s representative. The application is still pending before the authorities. This move of Pacheco had faced lots of criticism from social activists and political opponents. Social Activist Aires Rodregues wrote to the Governor urging her to reject the plea of Pacheco as he is also having other criminal cases pending against him the courts of Goa. “This is a mockery of Justice. The government has recommended he be pardoned but has not told the Governor of the many criminal proceedings against him. He is a repeat offender of crime,” Mr Rodrigues said.
Pacheco, leader of BJP ally Goa Vikas Party, is accused of abetting the suicide of his girlfriend. He had been untraceable for two months, after the Supreme Court confirmed his sentence in March. He surrendered on June 1.
Political scenario in Goa is going from bad to worse with some senior political leaders are getting involved into such controversies. The issue of Pacheco is wrapping them into the similar package. Is it the case ignorance? Where they do not realize the consequences of the situation or they have least bothered about the outcome? Why the India’s highest court upholded the sentence despite of knowing that the convict is the minister and he needs to represent the people of his constituency? Is it because the law upholds above all? Then why now the cabinet colleagues are supporting the act which is against the ruling of the Supreme Court? Please do think seriously over this issue and leave your valuable comments and suggestions.
Source: NDTV / PTI
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