MARGAO
Global Konknni Forum’s demand to accord equal status for Konkani in Roman script has evoked full support from the regional Goa Forward Party.
In fact, when a delegation of Global Konknni Forum led by president Kennedy Afonso called on Goa Forward Party Chief Vijai Sardesai to submit the draft Bill to amend the Official Language Act, Sardesai offered his full support for the demand raised by members of the Forum (GKF) for equal status to Konkani in the Roman script.
The president GKF told the media that Sardesai has assured GKF members that he would fully support the Konknni Roman Script issue , cause he felt that the age old Roman Script Konknni must be protected, so that the unity of the Konknni speaking people remains intact . ‘Sardesai said Konknni is our identity, and we need to protect and support all scripts to preserve it. The GF Chief said his uncle wrote in Roman Script Konknni for various newspapers and magazines”, Kennedy said.
Speaking after a meeting with the GKF members, Sardesai reiterated his unwavering commitment to the Konkani language, stating: “I am a Konkani by blood. Konkani must remain alive in Goa, and its speakers must be united; whether through the Devanagari or Roman script, anyone keeping Konkani alive deserves to be supported.”
Sardesai emphasized Konkani is the pride and identity of Goa. “Today, we are Goans because we speak Konkani. It is our language that safeguards our identity,” he said.
Sardesai vowed to utilize various avenues, including the state legislature, the Commission of Linguistic Minorities, and possible amendments to existing laws, to ensure equal status for Konkani in the Roman script. “As a party, we will fully cooperate with this campaign, and ensure that Konkani speakers are not divided,” he added.
He also took a strong stand against the current Goa Government, accusing it of being "anti-Konkani" and undermining the language's status. He referred to the government’s frequent efforts to undermine Konkani by making it non-mandatory for government jobs. “The decision to remove Konkani as a mandatory requirement for recruitment at Goa University is the most recent of such attempts. “This government is worse than those who initially refused to give official status to Konkani. Even after granting status, they are systematically undermining the language’s position in Goa,” Sardesai alleged.
Acknowledging that the path to giving equal status to Roman script Konkani is complex, Sardesdai, however, assured the public that constructive steps will be taken to move towards achieving this goal.
GKF Kennedy invited the Fatorda MLA to join in the All Political Committee that GKF will be forming soon, to push the two Bills in the Assembly.
“Sardesai has assured that he will join the committee , and will work with other MLAs on the Committee , to ensure the passing of two Bills in the Assembly. “Sardesai pointed out that the BJP government was totally against Konknni, and suggested that if the BJP does not pass the Bills in the Assembly, GKF must change its slogan “ Kodel zay vo Romi Lipi zay” to “ BJP zay vo ROMI LIPI zay”, Kennedy added.
