While the House passed a resolution to amend the Goa, Daman and Diu Official Language Act, to introduce Marathi as the official language of Goa, many of them must have squirmed at this sudden and untimely ruffling of the feathers of an issue which has long since been settled. However, the onus is on each party to handle this carefully and at the same time use this to make significant political points to make their stand clear.
All mainstream parties as well as new formations should realize that a resolution to make Marathi Goa’s official language assumes far more significance than giving Medium of Instruction related grants. The granting of Konkani as the official language is steeped in a past which has been agitational and confrontational. The Congress for instance, has leaders who clearly earned their spurs in the Konkani agitation like the current GPCC president Luizinho Faleiro and the now saffron tinted Dabolim MLA Mauvin Godinho. But its CLP leader Pratapsingh Rane and its senior spokesperson Ramakant Khalap has lent towards the Marathi protagonists. But the Congress, which is seeking legitimacy and validity as the principal opposition party against the BJP, must rise above all differences and be the protagonist of not ruffling waters that are calm. Konkani’s place as Goa’s official language has been fixed with the unique gesture of accommodation of Marathi to be used for all official purposes. The Congress, since it has been witness to the erstwhile language divide more than any other party, hopefully understands the consequences of any misadventure over changing the official language or even adding Marathi, through a near possible legislative change which alters the basic principle of the State having one official language.
The ruling BJP meanwhile has its task cut out. It cannot add one more “language issue” to its plate of problems and this resolution to amend the Official Language Act could have well been avoided. It has sharply, through its Panjim MLA, brought an amendment which makes public consultation necessary, for any change, but as a ruling party, it needs to ensure that it doesn’t create a situation, which brings people to the streets on an issue which is very emotive. When it hasn’t quite solved the MoI issue to the satisfaction of all, there is no point raking up a language non-issue and blowing it up.
And finally, the Goa Forward, obviously, is in an awkward situation with its founder MLA, Naresh Sawal moving the resolution to make Marathi as the official language. While Goa Forward’s Vijai Sardesai has clearly distanced himself from Sawal and even said that if the Bicholim MLA insists of converting this resolution to an actual amendment of Official Languages Act, Goa Forward will not back him, he needs to severe ties with him at this very instant since Sawal will not backtrack on this issue. And even if Sawal and Goa Forward agree on other issues, this will be the deal breaker, because Vijai Sardesai cannot even begin to campaign in Salcette, with Sawal in his team. The harsh reality of a founder MLA of Goa Forward moving a resolution backed by the BJP, has to be nullified by Sardesai’s opposition to the resolution.
For each party, each step on this issue needs to be taken with the concentration and the finesse of a surgeon.
