the goan I network
MARGAO
Former Chief Minister Digambar Kamat took the platform of his 65th birthday celebration to tell his workers that the Congress party did not stand by him when he was harassed and tormented by the BJP government in 2015 via raids conducted by the Income Tax, Enforcement Directorate and the Crime branch to finish his political career.
Touching on the question of reports that he may soon return back on the Chief Minister’s saddle in the near future, the six-time Margao MLA said that whatever is decided by God will be acceptable to him, saying that he believes in God and the people who have stood by him during his political career spanning 25 years.
Without taking names, the six-time Margao MLA said he has forgiven all those responsible behind the harassment meted out to him with the sole agenda to finish him politically, as he thanked God and his supporters for standing by him during those turbulent days. “I want to forgive all those who tormented and harassed me with the intention to finish me politically. These people used the I-T, ED and the Crime branch to conduct raids, but God and the people stood by me because I had never caused any harm for others nor had I ever come against the livelihood of people,” he said, while apparently referring to the raids conducted on him by the BJP government in 2015 in the Louis Berger case.
While profusely thanking his supporters for their love and support, Kamat told the workers after cutting the birthday cake at midnight that Congress party did not stand by him during those turbulent days. “When certain forces went all out to put me in trouble, the party did not stand by me, but I am happy that my workers did not leave me during those times. Even our opponents were shocked to find that I won the 2017 Assembly election by a margin of over 4,000 votes. Your love and support had helped me to face the opponents boldly,” he said.
Kamat added: “When the Municipal elections were round the corner in 2015, they forced me to approach the court for anticipatory bail. Even our opponents had purchased firecrackers anticipating that my anticipatory bail will be rejected and I will be behind bars. But God was with me. I had handed my fate to God and I believed that no one could change my destiny except God.”
On returning back to the CM’s saddle once again, Kamat termed as false reports that he had approached BJP leaders in Delhi to become the Chief Minister. And, he dismissed reports that a businessman was working to make him the Chief Minister, asserting that he does not require any businessman to become the Chief Minister as he believes in God and the people of his constituency. “When I became the Chief Minister in 2007, I had never lobbied with the Congress leadership. I may be the only Congress Chief Minister in the country who had become the Chief Minister without meeting any leader. And, I believe that no one can take away what is in your destiny,” he said, while expressing his gratitude to his workers for standing by him irrespective whether he was the Chief Minister, Minister or just an MLA.
The Congress top brass made it to his Malbhat residence to wish him on his birthday. AICC general secretary Dr Chella Kumar, Amit Deskhmukh, GPCC chief Girish Chodankar, Leader of the Opposition, Babu Kavlekar, MLAs Ravi Naik, Filipe Neri Rodrigues, Francisco Silveira, Jennifer Monserrate, Tony Fernandes, Nilkant Harlankar, Reginaldo Lourenco, Clafacio Dias, Wilfred D’Sa, party leaders Ramakant Khalap, district president Joe Dias were amongst others
who came to wish him on his birthday.
Tourism Minister, Babu Ajgaonkar and Benaulim NCP MLA Churchill Alemao also extended birthday greetings to the former Chief Minister.
