NCP too seeks CBI probe into cop-mafia nexus
HERALD REPORTER
PANJIM, JULY 31
Toeing the line of Bharatiya Janata Party, the Nationalist Congress Party too has asked for a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into the politician-police-drug mafia nexus, a subject that has been rocking the monsoon session of the Goa legislative assembly time and again in the last two weeks.  
Replying to queries from the media at a press conference on Saturday, NCP party president Jose Philip D’Souza disclosed the party had taken a decision that the drug nexus investigation should be handed over to the CBI. We will communicate our decision to the party high command, he stated.
The NCP’s decision for a CBI inquiry comes as a shot in the arm for the party’s MLA Mickky Pacheco who had made a strong demand for it in the past. The MLA maintained he had to face a politically-motivated arrest and subsequently jail for the Nadia Torrado death because he had raised his voice against the issue.
Today when media persons asked Jose Philip on whether it was true the CM had pressurised Mickky to quit after Nadia’s death, he replied, “I don’t know whether the CM had asked Mickky to quit, but I am aware about some of the allegations levelled by the MLA against Kamat in the monsoon session of the assembly.”
The NCP President said all he could say was he will ask the party high command for an inquiry into the allegations made by Mickky.
On a question whether NCP would demand for a 50-50 share in the seat sharing during elections, Jose Philip said the party high command had an upper hand to decide in this matter. The seat-sharing issue crops up only during election time and is best tackled at that time, he mentioned.
Over a question on rumours whether Mickky was resigning from the NCP to join the UGDP, Jose Philip said he was not aware of any thing like this. He continues to be our MLA, he stated.  
The NCP today held the first meeting of its new executive committee where it has vowed to strengthen the party in all 40 constituencies. “We were waiting for the formation of this committee. Now begins the work of strengthening the party in all 40 constituencies,” he stated.
He said the new vice presidents and general secretaries in the committee have been assigned work of strengthening the party. The two ministers of the NCP, including me, have decided to attend to grievances of the people and party workers every Tuesday in the party’s office at Panjim, he stated.
The president introduced the new committee by reading out the names of each and every member.