Kamat and D’Silva have never been on the same political side and it was D’Silva who managed to dislodge the Kamat-backed group from the helm of affairs at MMC when his panel came to power and he became the chairperson. Till then, Kamat had controlled the council.
Last week D’Silva was seen at Kamat’s public meeting raising eyebrows, but he set it aside as being there on ‘humanitarian grounds’. “Six of my councillors who stood by me had gone to the meeting. So naturally I have to be sensitive towards their concern purely on humanitarian grounds. I have never been attached politically to Digambar; its only because he is the MLA of Margao that I sometimes go to see him,” D’Silva added.
D’Silva is also quick to correct any speculation on his changing his political affiliations. “As far as my political affiliations go, I have always been supported by BJP. I am with BJP,” D’Silva said.
But what really added further fodder to the speculation was when on Tuesday D’Silva picked up from PWD a reply to an RTI application made by Kamat. “MLA Digambar Kamat requested me to get the RTI papers from PWD while coming to Panjim. I said yes purely on humanitarian grounds.”
It was then that on Wednesday night, D’Silva received summons to be present at the Crime Branch office on Thursday at 10 am. When he went there the officers were busy in the court and he was asked to return at 3 pm. He gave no statement to CB on Thursday and has been called on Friday at 2 pm.
“I am not related to the bribery case and I was surprised when I received the summons. But I respected them and did my duty. My statement wasn’t taken. I was sitting idle since 10 am as the officers had been to the court and even after 3 pm they were busy at court and I was relieved later,” D’Silva said.
Kamat and D’Silva also portrayed a united front a month ago, tackling issues of areas near the market, Kamat also defended D’Silva in the face of criticism the council had received over the town’s garbage management.
