Goa CM masterminded attack on my husband: MLA`s wife

Panaji: An attack on a BJP legislator by his own party cadre for patronising a cultural event organised by a rival party has been blamed on Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar.

Aruna, wife of assaulted legislator Vishnu Wagh, has accused Parrikar and BJP organising secretary Satish Dhond of giving out a `supari` (contract) to have her husband attacked at a public meeting Monday. The Bhratiya Janata Party said the allegation was "irresponsible". "(Police) should take my words on record that Parrikar and Dhond gave a `supari` to (BJP legislator Kiran) Kandolkar to attack Vishnu," she told a public rally in Wagh`s St. Andre legislative constituency. Kandolkar has denied the accuasation. On Thursday, Wagh was attacked by nearly 50 people, allegedly BJP workers who were supporters of Kandolkar. An independent legislator Vijai Sardesai, who was also returning from the same cultural programme organised by a Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) functionary, had to brandish his gun to escape the mob. Wagh escaped with minor injuries but his car was smashed with stones and metal rods by the mob. "They were workers from my party who were angry that I attended a cultural event... I have every right to attend a cultural event which has no political colour," Wagh told a news agency after naming 10 people in his first information report. A Kamu Halarnkar has been arrested in connection with the assault.