This lane for five years had their MLA return home everyday sirens blasting, police escort jeeps from 2007 to 2012 as Chief Minister. This same lane saw some action last week when his supporters gathered in large numbers showing him support when the first arrests took place last week.
As Kamat will fight it out in court to seek anticipatory bail before the court at 2.30 pm on Wednesday, the question arises, where is the five-time MLA of Margao? Has he gone into hiding? The apprehension grows as his phone is switched off. Yes switched off, the MLA who’s known to be most accessible, anytime of the day.
Kamat’s lane has the Sunni Jama Masjid and prayers go on till 9 pm and the youth are gathered outside the lane, below the building. Nazim and his friends walk out of the mosque and inquire if Kamat has come home, if he can meet him. He’s told that he’s gone for a family function and will arrive very late and will rush to court tomorrow morning.
“Digambar Kamat is with his lawyers in Panjim and will stay there,” says Damodar Shirodkar, Margao councillor on a night patrol with four others at Kamat’s tinted glass office below his first floor flat.
Shirodkar peeps from a small gap between the aluminum doors every time a car drives into the lane. He lets us in and then says; actually Digambar is gone for a family function and will come in 15 minutes. Then, he tells us that Kamat is spending the night in Panjim; he then asserts that Kamat will surface only in court. Shirodkar’s versions keep changing as to where be his Godfather is.
Beside Kamat’s house is a famous rundown joint that sells mutton kheema and parothas and we walk into the restaurant and everybody is discussing whether Kamat is involved or not. Whether he took the bribe or not, will he get picked the Alemao way or not? Some come up with some hearsay of other bribery incidents while some staunch Kamat supporters assert that he got Lord Damodar also known as Dambab with him and nothing will go wrong.
But next door, an embroidery shop has some great news to unravel. We spoke to Kamat a few hours back, and he says he’s been busy with his temple visits and praying to God’s but in his locality, we ask the embroidery guy namely Rahim. “Boss I need some urgent help at the mamlatdar, what time does Digambar come to his office and entertain the public, I am his voter,” we asked Rahim.
He’s quick to add, “Digambarbab daily melta sokanni (available every morning). But MLA is not visible in the locality for the last two days and I don’t he is around these days. Maybe busy since there is some court case involved.”
The mood is pensive in the locality; the medical store opposite that stays open till late is quiet and somber. We take a phone call and say, coming two minutes, near Digambar Kamat’s house, immediately people turn around and a conversation starts. People want to know, what’s our opinion, will the MLA who they voted for 25 years go to jail? The locality is angry that their leader is less influential now and that he’s done nothing to enhance Margao’s infrastructure but they still respect him for being available all the time for their petty needs. So they sympathize with him despite the anger of not performing.
But the real talk is that at the adjoining Barberia that shuts at 10 pm. The television set is blaring with HCN and other cable networks. Everybody is listening to the fate of their Digambarbab. The barber snips through hair praising the MLA and cursing him. Some are talking about his whereabouts. Another says if Kamat’s silver Innova and black Hyundai Sonata are in the lane, then he can’t have gone anywhere unless out of station. Another reminds us he has an expensive flat in Taleigao close to Babush Monserrate’s house as declared in his election affidavit and he may be holed up there. The versions are many, while his flat is well illuminated and the fans are running and the television is blaring but the MLA is not to be seen. The suspense and drama will unfold, states a man on the street who in between buying his toothpaste and other groceries is more focused on discussing Digambar than taking back his change.
