MARGAO
The Global Konknni Forum on Saturday said the Forum does not agree with the statement made by Environment Minister Aleixo Sequeira that the official language or Romi script issue was resolved in 1987.
Forum President Kennedy Afonso said, “By refusing to give his letter to the Commissioner of Linguistic Minorities, Minister Sequeira has almost chosen the “Kodel” over Romi script, and his people thus overriding the aspirations of the people of Nuvem constituency. Although he did say, he will speak to the Chief Minister, it remains to be seen if anything comes out of it.”
“If the issue was resolved, why did Churchill Alemao and Radharao Gracias lead a delegation of over 500 people to a media office the very next day in protest after the passage of the Bill,” Kennedy questioned.
He further demanded to know that if the issue was resolved, why did the former MLA of Nuvem constituency Adv Radharao Gracias table a bill in the Assembly, seeking amendment to the Official Language Act in the year 1993? If the issue of Romi Konkani was resolved why was Dalgado Konknni Academy established with the objective to demand equal status for Roman script in the Official Language Act. Why did Wilson Mazarello form Romi Lipi Action Front, and went to court if the Romi script issue was resolved. Why did over 50 gram sabhas pass resolution in their respective village panchayats if Roman script issue is resolved,” Kennedy sought to know.
He pointed out that the gram sabhas of Nuvem constituency represented by Minister Aleixo Sequeira has already passed the resolution in their respective village gram sabhas, and has sent the letter to the Commissioner of Linguistic Minorities Delhi, to look into the issue.
“The final litmus test for Aleixo Sequeira will come in the next Assembly session, or he has to resolve the issue before that through intervention of Chief Minister Pramod Sawant,” he added.
Meanwhile, members of the Global Konknni Forum will be attending the symposium jointly organised by Maand Shoban and Global Konknni Forum in Kalaangan Mangalore, to discuss on various issues pertaining to the Konkani language.
