Wants 'mastermind' held, 'minister' dropped
Hundreds of participants joined a candle light protest at the Margao Municipal garden to demand the arrest the mastermind behind the attack on activist Rama Kankonkar.
MARGAO
A candle light protest rally organized by citizens at the Margao Municipal garden on Monday has vowed to continue the ongoing agitation demanding justice for Rama Kankonkar till the “mastermind” “minister” is booked in the case and dropped from the BJP government.
Accusing the Goa police of trying to close the case by portraying that they have resolved the case with the arrest of Zenito Cardozo, the participants in loud voice said the mastermind behind the case is still at large and they will not rest till his arrest.
The meeting attended by hundreds of protestors has resolved to organise a Goa bandh with the voluntary participation of all people and after holding awareness meetings across the state.
The participants asserted that the attack by the goons at Caranzalem was not just an attack on Rama Kankonkar, but on each and every citizen of Goa.
In his fiery address, Aam Aadmi Party Benaulim MLA Venzy Viegas threw a couple of questions to the participants whether they agree that the police should catch the mastermind and that the minister should be dropped from the government, and apt came a thunderous reply demanding the arrest of the mastermind followed by his removal from the government.
“The attack on Rama is an attack on every Goan. If we keep quite now because of threats, they will come and attack us inside our houses”, he warned.
Venzy said the police and the government cannot close the case with the arrest of Zenito, asserting that the agitation will continue and culminate in a Goa bandh with the voluntary participation of the people of Goa.
In his address, AAP Velim MLA Cruz Silva called for unity amongst the people at his hour of crisis facing Goa, saying the BJP will try to divide Goans to avert a repetition of a Nepal-like revolt. “This agitation should continue to give justice for Rama. We have to remain united by leaving aside our differenes”, he said.
AAP National spokesman Valmiki Naik expressed shock and surprise over the BJP’s move to compliment the Police for resolving the case with the arrest of Zenito. He thanked the media for not allowing the BJP to get away with the statement, warning the people of attempts made by the ruling part to divide the movement.
In his address, activist Swapnesh Sherlekar said the time has come now to spread awareness amongst the people why they should all join the movement to save Goa. “We have to convince the people to come out and join the movement to save Goa and its resources”, he added.
Activist Fidol Pereira sought the support of the people of Goa in the fight against the destruction of the state. Saying there is no politics behind the movement, Fidol said no movement can move forward without the participation of the people.
Goans for Goa president Kennedy Afonso said the movement should continue till the mastermind behind the attack on Rama is nabbed.
Noted tiatrist Wilson Mazarello cautioned that the attack on Rama is just a trailer and the picture will come in the future. “We have to remain alert. Institutions have been purchased by this dispensation. We have to fight for Goa”, he said.
Convenor of Goyche Fudle Pilge Khatir Jack Mascarenhas termed the attack on Rama as an attack on every Goemkar. He said that a strong message should go that people of Goa will not be intimidated by threats in their resolve to save Goa’s identity, land and culture.
