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Everyone wants to silence Rama Kankonkar
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Everyone wants to silence Rama Kankonkar

In Depth September 26, 2025 , by

By Rajan Narayan

EVERY police investigation looks for motives behind every crime. In the case of the assault on political activist Rama Kankonkar, the police conceded it was a “supari”-contract job.
The seven thugs, who carried out the attack, were apparently reporting to Zenito Cardozo. The question is: Whom was Zenito taking his orders from?
There have been insinuations that Tourism Minister Rohan Khaunte ordered the hit. This is on basis of a picture on social media of one of the accused being present at an event hosted by Khaunte.
No doubt, more pix of goons with other suspects will emerge. The truth is every minister – from Chief Minister Pramod Sawant – has a vested interest in silencing political Rama Kankonkar. He has been teasing and tormenting the political class.
As far back as February 12, Rama in an interaction with the media, declared that the CM should be buried alive. The police quickly swung into action and arrested Rama on charges of engendering the chief minister’s life. Rama was produced before a magistrate, who remanded him to a 10-day judicial custody. He was sent to Colvale jail, where he dramatically collapsed. After he was taken to hospital there was an uproar over the government misusing the police force to target activists.
BAIL BACKDROP
AGAINST this backdrop, the metropolitan magistrate released Rama on bail. Town & Country Planning Minister Vishwajit Rane has also been high on Rama’s list of venereal politicians. He has come out with a lot of YouTube videos on the TCP minister, accusing him of facilitating the sale of land to wealthy builders from Delhi and Mumbai by circumnavigating or undermining the TCP Act rules.
The activist has alleged mass illegal conversion of agricultural, orchard and even forest lands. For example, destroying hill slopes for a DLF ultra luxury accommodation project where the historic Reis Magos Fort stands. TCP minister has craftily amended TCP rules and regulations to raise FAR.
For example, waiving the Rs20,000 fee per sqmtr for additional Floor Area Ratio (FAR), which benefitted Calangute MLA Michael Lobo the most. Allowing the filling up of paddy fields. Selling farm land to Lodha for a high-end project in Bicholim. Vishwajit Rane has enough reasons to silence thorn in his conscience, Rama.
Then, there is also Atanasio “Babush” Monserrate, who has always believed public office is meant for private profit. Babush can provide master classes to Vishwajit in how to manipulate the TCP and the Outline Development Plan (ODP) for raking in mega bucks.
BABUSH, THE ARCHITECT
BABUSH was the architect of the Regional Plan (RP) 2011, which literally auctioned Goa. The story goes that he invited the builders to his opulent casa in Taleigao and told them they could color the map of Goa as they wished, no problem.
The outrage this sparked led to the creation of the Goa Bachao Abhiyan(GBA), culminating in the scrapping of the RP 2011. The man for all seasons has got the BJP and Congress governments to give him control of the Taleigoa Public Development (PDA) and, in more recent times, the Panjim PDA too.
Babush converted Taleigao into dubiously poor copy of Singapore, long before Assagao became Gurgaon. The politician was first to amend the building rules to provide higher FAR. All the tall buildings on the Dona Paula and Miramar bypass, are Babush creations, including his son’s tall 11-floor Crescent Building, as also the Taj Vivanta Miramar.
RAMA has highlighted the cash-for-job scam in the collectorate. The manipulation of the digital land records, ration cards, income certificates and domicile certificates issued by the collectorate, are a major source of extortion and patronage. As a long time protector of goons, Babush has both motive and the contacts.
Micheal Lobo has been repeatedly targeted by Rama for promoting Mumbai-style dance bars and massage parlors, protecting hustlers and pimps, and hijacking North Goa with an ODP made to benefit him and this was confirmed by the Bombay high court.
So, the Calangute political kingpin too hates Rama. Although, Khaunte is the main target on social media for keeping the company of local goons. His brother is accused of filling low lying marshes and paddy fields in Salvador do Mundo, hawking Goa Tourism Development Corporation Ltd (GTDC) prime property to private parties.
MOST blatant is the proposed redevelopment of Miramar Residency into a high-rise 500-room 5-star hotel. But why single out only these four politicians in high places? Rama considers them all chor. And Rama is like the little boy in the fable who screamed “the emperor is naked.” Is it all in vain?
Many other politicians have also been in the firing line of Kankonkar. This includes the former Minister for Culture Govind Gaude. Rama had targeted him for the shoddy work in the renovation of the Kala Academic. Rama had directed his ire at Transport Minister Mauvin Godinho. He was targeted for the scams in the purchase of electric buses for the Kadamba Transport. Rama had also questioned the verdict acquitting Godinho in the power scam case. He pointed that Godinho had escaped because the then CM Pratapsingh Rane had not given evidence. Rama had also hurled vitriolic attacks at Goa’s AAP chief Amit Palekar. There is also a controversy over AAP functionary. It has been reported that he has been lawyer for Zenito Cardozo, whom the police claims is the prime accused in the assault. Palekar has claimed that he had defended Zenito only in professional capacity. Zenito is a BJP supporter.

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