Goan rhapsody continues…..

However, the MLA was not willing to give up that easily. I was not prepared to do his bidding, especially after learning the reason behind his demand. Our battle continued for a couple of months. During this time, I had gone on an official visit to Delhi when I received a frantic call from my deputy inspector general (DIG). He informed me that a high-level delegation of the ruling party from Delhi was visiting Goa to take stock of the political situation. In a meeting with the delegation, the same MLA had complained that the CM did not accede to even minor requests of elected representatives, such as the transfer of an officer-in-charge posted in their constituency. A senior party leader, who was heading the delegation, directed the CM to ‘look into’ the MLA’s request forthwith. My DIG had then been summoned by the CM in my absence and asked to issue orders transferring out the officer-in-charge immediately. The DIG was aware of my views on the subject and called me to find out what he should do. I asked him to hold on until I returned and not to issue any orders.

 When I flew back to Goa, I drove straight from the airport to the CM’s residence. The CM informed me that even though he was not in favour of transferring the officer, he was under tremendous pressure from his party to get it done. Therefore, I had to find a way out.

‘Sir, if the officer must be moved, he should be sent to a police station of his choice,’ I said as assertively as I could. The CM immediately agreed.

 I called the officer to my office the next day and explained the situation to him. He told me that he would be happy  to move out of Calangute as the local MLA was making life difficult for him.

To be continued….