GRLA says BJP govt reneged on promises made in 2012
Members of the Global Romi Lipi Abhiyan address the media.
MARGAO
Global Romi Lipi Abhiyan has strongly condemned the statement made by BJP Transport Minister Mauvin Godinho and Glen Ticlo that there is no need for a Minorities Commission in Goa, as according to him, the government is giving equal benefits to all communities equally.
“This is sheer nonsense. The Minorities Commission of India was established in 1992 to protect and safeguard the constitutional rights of the minorities, and not to distribute benefits. It’s a crying shame that so far, the Minorities Commission has not yet been set up in Goa. The atrocities on the minority community have been on the rise for the past 15 years since the BJP government came to power,” asserted GRLA Convenor Kennedy Afonso.
He questioned: “If there was no need, did the BJP government put it up in its election manifesto in 2012? If it was not required in Goa, why did the BJP government under the leadership of Manohar Parrikar introduce a Minorities Commission Bill in the Assembly in 2012? Was this done only to fool the minorities into getting votes?”
He said the need to establish the Minorities Commission is greater now than ever before, because the atrocities on the minorities have risen under the rule of the BJP government to such an extent that people are fearing for their lives and livelihood.
“Mauvin Godinho seems to be blind or living in la-la land if he cannot see the attacks and rampant discrimination going on against the minorities in every sphere of life in Goa. Mauvin Godinho and Glen Ticlo do not represent the aspirations of the minority community any longer, as they have sold their souls in their greed for money and power,” he said.
He added: “Romi Konknni is being denied its rightful place in the Official Language Act, and to be taught in the schools of Goa, thus trampling on the rights of the minority community in Goa. Our minority-established schools are not allowed to teach Romi Konknni in schools despite the new NEP emphasising that the school management has the right to set up its own curriculum based on the needs of the students.”
Meanwhile, Global Romi Lipi Abhiyan will be holding a programme titled 'Konknni Avoiche Vegent Ravoya' on 20 August 2025 at 4 pm at Wild Orchid Resorts, Majorda, to commemorate the day the Konknni language was accepted into the 8th Schedule of the Indian Constitution.
“We will present a PowerPoint presentation titled PANCHANAMA, followed by the felicitation programme. Fr Bolmax will give the keynote address, and Ramarao Wagh has consented to be the Chief Guest and Adv Cleofato Couthino as the Guest of Honour,” Kennedy added.
