PANAJI
The Marathi protagonists on Friday staged a protest at Azad Maidan in Panaji to demand Marathi as the official language of the State.
“Konkani language has been given status of official language, however the demand of official status to Marathi language is still pending. The government should come with a new act to end this debate of official language”, said former union minister Ramakant Khalap.
Few activists of various pro-Marathi organisations like Marathi Rajbhasha Prastapan Samiti, Gomantak Marathi Academy, Marathi Mayboli, Gomantak Marathi Academy, Gomantak Marathi Sahitya Parishad took part in the protest.
“Technically, there is no term called official language. Any language used in the State can be given a status to be used for official purposes. It can be two or more languages also,” said Khalap.
The Marathi protagonists put forth the argument that there are around 10 Marathi newspapers in the State which have wide readership.
The pro-Marathi people demanded that the government take a stand before the Lok Sabha elections.
Divakar Shinkre said people have been fighting for official status to Marathi for the last 36 years.
Demand of official status to Marathi due to ignorance: Bhembre
PANAJI: Insisted that the issue is already decided and there was no need to rake up the issue, Konkani writer Uday Bhembre said the demand to make Marathi an official language was due to sheer ignorance.
“As per the Constitution, the language which is spoken and understood by the maximum people is naturally a language used for official correspondence,” said Bhembre. “With this rule, Hindi has become the official language of the country.”
