War of words hotting up between Tourism, PWD ministers in Goa

Panaji, Apr 2 (UNI) The war of words between Goa Tourism minister Francis Xavier (Mickey) Pascheco of NCP and state PWD minister Churchill Alemao (Cong) was hotting up, with each indulging in open accusations and counter-accusations.

Unable to gulp the developments, a vitriolic Mr Pascheco today gave a two-week ultimatum to chief minister Digambar Kamat for divesting Mr Alemao of his PWD portfolio. He also threatened to quit from the ministry, if the chief minister failed to oblige him, as Churchill, along with brother and urban development minister Joaquim Alemao, was sabotaging the development of his Benaulim constituency in South Goa.

''Either I or he should remain in government, come what may. I mean business and have already brought this to the notice of my party bosses here,'' an angry Mr Pascheco told mediapersons here.

He accused Churchill of interfering in the constituency by putting on hold land acquisitions for developmental works.

Mr Alemao yesterday accused Mr Pascheco of resorting to 'goondagiri' by inciting his workers to block his car demanding widening of a road in Benaulim constituency.

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