PANAJI: The first meeting of the newly constituted executive committee of the Goa unit of the Nationalist Congress Party, held on Saturday at the party’s city headquarters decided to press with the government for a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) inquiry, into the alleged police-drug trade-politician nexus.

The president of the state unit of the NCP, Mr Jose Philip D’Souza, who is also the Revenue Minister, addressing a press conference after the meeting said that he would convey the feelings of the executive committee members to the members of the government, during the next cabinet meeting.

"Our MLA, Mr Francisco Xavier Pacheco has already demanded a CBI probe into the allegation, in the House, during the ongoing assembly session," he added.

Speaking further, Mr D’Souza said that the meeting also decided that he himself as well as the other cabinet minister of the party, Mr Nilkanth Halarnkar should be available in the party office every Tuesday, to listen to the grievances of the public as well as party workers.

"The executive committee also gave a green signal to mobilise the strength of the party in Goa," he added.

The NCP state president said that the party has around 26,000 members all around the state and the number would increase in the future.

"As for increasing our share in the government, I feel that the Congress, the NCP and the Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party should all co-ordinate with each other while running the government," he mentioned.

Replying to a question as regards demand of the party to appoint a NCP member as the deputy chairperson of the State Planning Board, instead of party’s former state chief, Dr Wilfred de Sousa, the new NCP state unit president said that he has already written a related letter to the Chief Minister, Mr Digambar Kamat, and the letter has now been forwarded to the Congress High Command.

"I expect a decision in the matter within a week," he added.

Answering another question, Mr D’Souza said that he, in the capacity of the leader of the NCP’s legislature party in the state Assembly, was not consulted by the Chief Minister, before seeking the resignation of Mr Francis Xavier Pacheco as the cabinet minister. "May be the Chief Minister and the High Command of the NCP had a discussion on the matter," he added, pointing out that it is up to the NCP High Command as to whether Mr Pacheco is to be reinstated as the minister in the state cabinet or not.

Replying to yet another question, the state NCP chief said that he is aware of the allegations that the Home Minister, Mr Ravi Naik was targeting the minority community leaders, but has no evidence about the same.

The four senior vice presidents of the state unit of the NCP, Mr Surendra Sirsat, Dr Carmo Pegado, Ms Sangeeta Parab and Mr Pandurang Raut were present on the occasion.