PANAJI
Addressing a press conference in the city on Wednesday, Faleiro said any move to modify the Official Language Act would only lead to protests. Faleiro was the lone member of his party in the House to have walked out after his plea for amendment to make Romi Konkani used for official purposes was rejected by the government,
“Let us not try to dig out the language issue now. There should be no agitations in the name of language. The issue has already been decided and accepted by the people,” Faleiro said adding that the Act has space for Marathi.
Faleiro was referring to the private members’ resolution which demanded that Marathi be given official status and subsequent amendment moved by the BJP’s Siddharth Kuncalienkar that such a move be undertaken only after consultation with the people of the State, which was passed in the recent session of the assembly.
“During my tenure I had worked to ensure that knowledge of Konkani be essential for securing government jobs besides also the requirement of 15 years domicile in the State,” Faleiro said seeking to claim credit for what he said was the reason why today one can see local officials in government departments.
Faleiro’s stand is a clear departure from that of Leader of Opposition Pratapsing Rane, who said that there would not be a big problem if Marathi is accorded official status as it would only mean a change in ‘nomenclature.’
“When the official language act was passed under my watch as the CM, all arrangements were made to extend dignity to all languages in the State.” “Marathi, at the moment can be used for official purposes. If it is extended the status of official language, it will be a mere change in nomenclature,” Rane had told The Goan earlier.
Rane was CM when Official Language Act was passed, but was blamed for delaying a decision thereby allowing situation to go out of hand, while secretly rooting for Marathi.
