The Fatorda block of the Goa Forward Party (GFP) has strong ly condemned the attack on social activist Rama Kankonkar, demanding immediate justice and the arrest of the real master mind. At a Tuesday press con ference, GFP leaders de scribed the assault as an af front not only to Kankonkar but to the entire Scheduled Tribe (ST) community. Fatorda block president Peter Fernandes said the attack exposed growing lawlessness in the state. “The assault on Rama Kankonkar is also an as sault on the ST commu nity. We are shocked that some of the accused in the case are reportedly closely linked to political leaders. This shows that the rule of law is being openly flout ed,” he said, urging authori ties to act swiftly. Margao Municipal Coun cil councillor Nimisha Fa leiro questioned the BJP on the future of ST political reservations. “What assurance does the BJP give the ST com munity about reservation in the 2027 Assembly elec tions? The silence of the BJP’s ST leaders on this brutal attack is deeply trou bling. Why are BJP’s ST rep resentatives not speaking up?” she asked. Former councillor Jose Gomes added, “Where are the BJP ST leaders? Why are they silent? Silence in such matters only encour ages further injustice.” Aldona Congress MLA Adv Carlos Alvares Ferreira criticised the police inves tigation, saying authorities claimed to have arrested mastermind Zenito Car dozo, while a sitting cabi net minister was the real instigator. “In such cases, investiga tions must be done care fully. I have an objection to the statement of SP North Rahul Gupta… This state ment is suspicious. The SP is trying to protect some one. Is this a ruse to stop further investigations and to give a clandestine chit to the Godfather General?” questioned Adv Ferreira.
