MRS activists go on hunger strike at Ponda
Threaten to work against BJP, MGP over status to Marathi
THE GOAN NETWORK
PONDA
Members of Marathi Rajbhasha Samiti (MRS) on Saturday staged a one-day hunger strike at Ponda, to pressurize the government to accord equal status to Marathi on par with Konkani as Goa's official language, failing which they have threatened to work against the BJP and MGP in the next assembly election.
Around 30-odd senior citizens and a few youth went on a hunger strike at Dada Vaidya Chowk-Ponda on Saturday, protesting against the government’s reluctance to grant the demanded status to Marathi.
They shouted slogans demanding that Marathi should be given the status of official language on par with Konkani.
Speaking to The Goan, MRS president G R Dhavalikar said all subsequent governments had failed to accord equal status to Marathi on par with Konkani as Goa's official language.
“To protest against the government, we will also stage a one-day hunger strike in the remaining talukas from 10 am to 5 pm,” Dhavalikar said.
Asked what would be their future course of action, if their demand was rejected, Dhavalikar replied, “We will teach this government a lesson and will persuade people not to vote for BJP and MGP candidates.”
To another question on whether the MG Party had supported them, Dhavalikar said, “Leaders of this regional party have not publicly supported us. I expect that they come clear on their stand.”
“MG Party should make their stand clear whether they support us or not. If they support us then they should table the bill in the next assembly session. If not, we will also go against them,” he added.
