VASCO
Demanding official language status for Marathi in Goa, former RSS Goa chief Subhash Velingkar on Saturday evening warned the BJP government that it could face electoral consequences if it continued to ignore the aspirations of Marathi-speaking people.
Addressing a meeting in Vasco, Velingkar clarified that the demand was not against Konkani but for Marathi to receive equal recognition as an official language in the State. He said Goa’s history had a strong Marathi connection, with several newspapers published in the language over the years.
“We are not against Konkani. Our demand is that Marathi should also be granted official language status in Goa. The BJP must not take Marathi-speaking people lightly, as they have consistently supported the party in elections,” Velingkar said.
Accusing the government led by Chief Minister Pramod Sawant of neglecting Marathi, Velingkar alleged that permissions for Marathi-medium schools were being stopped even as English-medium schools continued to receive approvals. He claimed that the government’s policies were gradually weakening Marathi education and creating insecurity among parents who wished to educate their children in the language.
Velingkar further alleged that the government was creating an impression that students educated in Marathi would be disadvantaged while seeking government employment. Questioning the weightage given to languages during government recruitment interviews, he claimed that 80 marks were allotted to English and only 20 marks to Konkani.
He argued that such an approach could undermine the interests of Marathi-speaking people and called for a policy that ensured fair treatment for different linguistic communities.
Velingkar urged the State government to convene a special Assembly session and introduce an amendment to grant Marathi official language status alongside Konkani. Citing other States and Union Territories where more than one language enjoys official recognition, he maintained that Goa could adopt a similar arrangement.
Turning his attention to the BJP’s electoral prospects, Velingkar recalled former union defence minister Manohar Parrikar’s tenure, claiming that the party had been reduced to 13 seats after a similar controversy over Marathi.
“Parrikar had tried to play the same game and the BJP was reduced to 13 seats. The party is still a mixed bag and this is its last chance to correct its mistakes. If it ignores our demand, it will have to face similar consequences in the upcoming Assembly elections,” he warned.
Velingkar said the Marathi-speaking electorate should not be taken for granted and urged the government to address the demand before it translates into political discontent.
