Team Goemkarponn
PANAJI: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has called for a detailed investigation into the circumstances that led activist Rama Kankonkar to accuse Chief Minister Pramod Sawant and Tourism Minister Rohan Khaunte of involvement in his assault. The party said there appeared to be a “politically motivated attempt” to malign the image of BJP leaders.
Addressing the media on Sunday, BJP state president and Rajya Sabha MP Sadanand Shet Tanavade dismissed the allegations as “completely baseless” and claimed that the victim and his family had been changing their statements since the incident.
Tanavade said the Chief Minister had ensured that the police were given full independence to investigate the case. “The probe so far has been fair and free from political interference. Now, it is equally important to find out what prompted such allegations after 23 days,” he said.
He added that the pattern of changing statements suggests a pre-planned attempt to create confusion. “We want the police to thoroughly examine who is behind this sudden change of narrative and why,” Tanavade said.
The BJP maintained that while the legal process must continue, the authorities should also identify the motives behind the shifting claims to prevent misuse of the justice system. “The police must uncover what led the victim to make these fresh allegations. This is necessary to protect public trust and the integrity of the investigation,” the MP said.
Echoing the demand, Transport Minister Mauvin Godinho said the accusations appeared politically driven. “Someone seems to be guiding the victim to target the BJP, the Chief Minister and Minister Khaunte. This cannot be ignored,” Godinho stated.
He pointed out that both the victim and his wife have repeatedly altered their versions since the assault. “Their statements have changed from the day of the incident till now. What caused this sudden U-turn? The police findings so far clearly indicate that this was a criminal matter, not a political one,” he added.
The BJP leaders urged the police to go beyond the surface allegations and identify whether external forces were attempting to manipulate the case for political gain.
