MARGAO
The Global Konknni Forum (GKF) and Maand Sobhann has jointly condemned the statements made by Fr Mousinho Ataide, president of the All India Konknni Parishad ( AIKP) that the Official Language Act should not be touched to give equal status for Roman script of Konkani nor it should be allowed to be introduced in schools.
The two organizations have said Fr Ataide has fallen prey to the dictates of the Devanagari Lobby and betraying the aspirations of the people belonging to the minority Catholic community, whose greatest desire is to see their children studying Roman script of Konkani in schools. “The Catholic community in Goa is shocked that Fr Mousinho Ataide has sold his soul to the Devanagari lobby for 30 pieces of Silver and for the position of President,” asserted GKF President Kennedy Afonso.
He said the GKF had expected nothing different from Mousinho Ataide adding “that’s why we had challenged him that if AIKP has nothing against any other scripts, to make a statement, saying AIKP has no objection to introducing Roman script of Konkani in schools. With this statement it is very clear that the Devanagari lobby has no love for other scipts of Konkani and are totally out to destroy Roman script in Goa”.
Mandd Sobhann Gurukar also responded to the statement made by Prashant Naik, saying that Goa government should cut grants given to Kannada language in Goa. “The Karnataka government has been very generous to the cause of Konkani. We are not beggars to rely on grants from Goa government. We have achieved great things on our own. We are only fighting with the Sahitya Akademi to give respect to all Konkani scripts," Mandd Sobhann Gurukar asserted.
