Clinton diary

With all roads leading to the Colaba-Fort area being blocked off by 3 pm, the crowds at the bus stops outside the University in Fort swell...

With all roads leading to the Colaba-Fort area being blocked off by 3 pm, the crowds at the bus stops outside the University in Fort swelled. Commuters were being asked by the BEST inspectors to walk to the stops opposite the VSNL, where buses would be halting.

While most of them cribbed, not knowing why the detours were being undertaken, one of the inspectors enlightened them about the Clinton visit. “Go home soon and watch Clinton on TV,” said one. Immediately a commuter remarked, “Why watch him? There’s a cricket match on at Sharjah — South Africa vs Pakistan. We’d rather watch that.”

Courts work half time

There was hardly any case being argued in the Bombay High Court in the second half of the day, with most of the lawyers packing their bags for home. Since most of their offices are located in the Fort-Nariman Point area, and police having told them to close offices from 2 pm today, the lawyers had no choice but to close shop. In fact, the bar associations told the Bombay High Court administration about it and many judges did not sit for hearing. A few of the courts worked, with the lawyers who could make it for the clients pleading their cases.

No wait in the US

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“If I was in the US, I won’t be waiting like this,” says Mel King from Boston, who is in the city with a group of students studying mega cities. Waiting for Clinton to finish at Cafe Royale and the elaborate security cordon to clear up, King said: “In the US, I haven’t seen such a gathering for a visiting politician or head of state. The only exception was when Mandela came, the crowd then joined in”.

King happily chatted with other stranded residents of Colaba, asking them what they thought of everything and telling them how back in the US things are not very different. “I am staying at the YMCA and regularly eat at Cafe Royale. But nobody notices me,” he rues. “What’s the point. If Clinton eats breakfast at a hotel in the US, nobody else is allowed to dine there. May as well not eat in a hotel then.”

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