The first Herald woke up from deep slumber was State Congress President Luizinho Faleiro, asking him what are his thoughts on a former minister from a government headed by his party being the first big political arrest in the Louis Berger Goa Watergate Scam.
Faleiro was quick to inquire who was arrested, whether it was Alemao or anybody else. He was unaware of the arrest and asserted, “Let the law take its own course and deliver a judgment in the matter. He’s not a member of our party, hence I would not like to comment in the matter this stage or at this hour of the night.”
Similarly, the former chief minister sleeping in his Malbhat-Margao house and also facing the threat of arrest in the same scam was quick to receive our call in the midst of his slumber. Also unawares of Alemao being arrested, Digambar Kamat told Herald, “I have made enough statements to the media and the investigation teams in this matter. I have nothing to do with the investigation and the arrest of Churchill though he was in my cabinet when this project happened. The matter is sub-judice hence, I will maintain silence.”
Quick to take our call and following the news on a HCN ticker was brother and fellow minister in the Kamat government. “Nobody called me up amongst our brothers or from the family. I am reading this news of Churchill’s arrest on the television. I am rushing to his Varca residence to see what happens. I may not go to Crime Branch though. Let’s get a clear picture by morning,” asserted an apprehensive Joaquim Alemao.
Meanwhile, in the midst of many call waitings, Churchill’s daughter Valanka, speaking to the Herald asserted that she is very busy and in the middle of many things. She confirmed the arrest but stated that she was not in a position to comment on the matter.
While Herald also woke up Fisheries Minister and Alemao’s rival Avertano Furtado who said it’s a good move in the case but he would like to stay out of the matter and hoped that the investigation reveals the necessary facts. He asserted that he was aware of Alemao’s late night arrest.
Quick to speak post-midnight on the matter from the silence of his room was Caetano Silva, the Benaulim MLA who told that foreign investigators did what these Parrikar-Parsekar governments couldn’t do. “This expose and the scam are the curses and prayers of the people to expose Churchill the scoundrel and chief. Benaulim is delighted at this hour of the night and hope Churchill is brought to the book,” he said.
Meanwhile, a few Varca villagers mobilized others and were making plans to drive to the Crime Branch as an act of solidarity to show support to their arrested leader.
Vijai Sardesai was fast asleep during the arrest with his phone switched off and not available for comments while former Alemao aide and now Congress Vice President Aleixo Reginaldo Lourenco refused to take our calls despite being in many burst of call waitings, post-midnight taking an update of the arrest.
