Goan rhapsody continues…..

By then I was wiser to the ways of the local politicos and told the minister’s secretary that there was no way I would come to his office. I further added that I worked under the CM—who was also the home minister—and had nothing to do with the health minister.

As I had anticipated, within ten minutes or so, I received a call from the CM’s office. Now the CM wanted to see me in his office. It was not difficult to understand that the health minister had complained about me.

As I drove to the CM’s office, which was barely a five- minute drive away, I was determined to stand my ground and convey my point of view as aggressively as possible. If I went on the back foot I was sure to be clean bowled.

The office-cum-residence of the chief minister of Goa is located on Altinho Hill, arguably the best part of the capital city of Panjim. The neighbourhood, besides its good views over the city and the River Mandovi, is famous for the Bishop’s Palace, an imposing structure built by the Portuguese. Right next to it stands a quaint old bungalow, which was the CM’s camp office. The ground floor of the bungalow had offices for the CM’s personal staff, while the first floor had his office chamber. Right across his office was a visitors’ room, and in between was a narrow corridor. Both rooms had glass panels on their doors through which one could see what was going on inside.

As I stood in the corridor between the two rooms, I saw the CM in the visitors’ room meeting a delegation of people. To my right, in CM’s office, sat the scowling health minister, anger writ large on his face. I decided to walk into the CM’s office, ready to take the bull by the horns. Even before I took my seat, the minister asked me brusquely, ‘Did you take the government’s permission before sending an email to an outside agency like the BCCI?’

To be continued……..