ST, OBC communities condemn FIRs against Rama, Xencor

Staff Reporter

Panaji

The ST and OBC communities have condemned the FIRs filed against activists Rama Kankonkar, Xencor Polji, and Suraj Arondekar, calling them politically motivated attempts to silence dissent.

Addressing the media on Sunday, tribal youth leader Satyawan Gaonkar said that rakhandar is the deity of the Bahujan Samaj. “Kankonkar and Polji were advocating for the protection of the rakhandar after the Dev Khapreshwar idol at Porvorim was allegedly shifted improperly,” he said.

Tribal leader Rupesh Velip said Kankonkar has been at the forefront of protecting Goa’s culture, heritage, and tribal identity. He said that Kankonkar was arrested last month for allegedly making derogatory remarks against the CM, later attacked by unidentified individuals, and received multiple threats.—“indicating an organized effort to silence him”. “Instead of ensuring his safety and taking action against the perpetrators, police—acting under political pressure—are attempting to arrest him again on fabricated charges of hurting religious sentiments,” Velip alleged.

The leaders have resolved to fight against what they called an attempt to suppress the Bahujan Samaj’s voice.

“The fabricated allegations of hurting religious sentiments are just an excuse to crush dissent and silence activists,” they said.