PANAJI: The agitation demanding official language status for Marathi has taken a disruptive turn with hundreds of supporters of the Marathi Rajbhasha Nirdhar Samiti blocking the Old Mandovi Bridge on the Panaji side. The vehicular traffic has been diverted via New Mandovi Bridge.
The protest came more than two hours before the commencement of the three-day Assembly session.
Carrying placards and flags, protesters first assembled at the Kadamba Bus Stand before beginning a march towards the Goa Legislative Assembly. A heavy police presence was deployed as the protesters proceeded towards the Assembly, but they were stopped on the Old Mandovi Bridge.
The protesters subsequently staged a sit-in on the bridge, bringing traffic to a halt in both directions.
The Traffic Department have issued an advisory informing motorists that the Old Mandovi Bridge had been temporarily closed to vehicular traffic from both sides following the demonstration.
“Demonstrators have blocked the Old Mandovi Bridge on the Panaji side. Consequently, the Old Mandovi Bridge has been temporarily closed to vehicular traffic from both directions. All vehicular traffic is presently being diverted via the New Mandovi Bridge,” the advisory stated.
Motorists were urged to plan their journeys accordingly and exercise caution while travelling through the diversion.
The Samiti had announced plans to mobilise around 5,000 supporters for the march as part of its demand for a resolution and legislative action to grant Marathi official language status in Goa.
The organisation has warned that the agitation would be intensified if the government fails to bring a resolution on Marathi during the Assembly session.
The demand has also received political backing from the Shiv Sena led by Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde. The party has called on the Goa government to initiate appropriate legal measures and introduce a Bill on the demand during the session.
