Fatorda MLA Vijai Sardesai has denied that he has assured support to any Bill brought in the Legislative Assembly to accord official status to Marathi language.
A delegation of Konkani Bhasha Mandal (KBM) led by its General Secretary Adv. Surel Tilve called on the Fatorda MLA on Wednesday and submitted a memorandum to him. KBM has urged the MLA not to be a part of any movement which will divide the Goans on linguistic or religious lines.
The KBM delegation's visit to the MLA against the backdrop of the statement made by the Marathi Raajbhasha Samiti to the media stating that the Fatorda MLA has agreed to support a private member Bill according official status to Marathi.
Vijai told the KBM delegation that the people of Goa are facing several other issues, adding that the need of the hour for all Goans is to unite and fight against the injustice meted out to them by the present government. He further cautioned the people against the government move to divide people on linguistic and religious lines on these issues.
He assured the delegation that he will oppose any bill which will seek amendments to the present official language act.
Meanwhile, demanding official status for Marathi which has been pending for the past 25 years, members of Marathi Rajbhasha Samiti (MRS) held a 'dharna' near old collectorate office, Margao.
Briefing mediapersons on the sidelines of the dharna, MRS president GR Dhavlikar claimed that a total of 32,000 students are studying in Marathi medium while 4,000 in Konkani medium. The corresponding number for English is 58,000.
He said the State reads Marathi newspapers and the people's opinion is in favour of Marathi,” Dhavlikar stated. Reminding people that a total of 120 out of the 180 panchayats in the State had passed Resolutions favouring official Status for Marathi on par with Konkani, Dhavlikar said students opt for Marathi as their medium of instruction in nine talukas of the State.
“In accordance with the Articles of the Constitution, the language which is in use in the State must be the official language of that State. Since Marathi is widely used in Goa, it naturally qualifies for official status in Goa,” Dhavlikar told mediapersons.
Dhavlikar said MRS does no harbour any ill-feeling or animus against Konkani, but demands official status for Marathi so that both Konkani and Marathi can exist in consonance with each other thereby putting an end to the language controversy in the State.
