PORVORIM: The Legislative Assembly on Friday resolved to give Marathi official language status by making necessary amendment to the Goa Official Language Act after a thorough public consultation.
The House adopted the private member’s resolution moved by Independent MLA Naresh Sawal, who urged the government to amend the Goa Official Language Act 1987 by giving Marathi official language status along with Konkani. The resolution was moved with an amendment brought in by BJP MLA Siddharath Kuncolienkar, who appealed to the House to make necessary changes in the Act only after taking people into consideration.
The House unanimously resolved to adopt the resolution with the amendment. However, the State government appealed to the MLAs not to politicize the issue creating a divide between Konkani and Marathi protagonists.
It was interesting to see that the united Independent MLAs during the entire session remained divided on the resolution. Fatorda MLA Vijai Sardesai objected to the resolution and stated that the House is not the authority to decide on such an emotional issue and called for a referendum. At the same time, ruling MLAs deputy speaker Vishnu Wagh and MLA Subhash Faldessai and MGP’s Lavoo Mamledar supported the resolution.
Several ruling MLAs objected to the resolution, which was tabled in Marathi, stating that they are not able to understand the language.
Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar urged members not to give a political colour to the issue as it could have other consequences. “We are discussing on a resolution. Let us not divide the House and State on the issue,” he said.
Minister for Official Language Milind Naik, who also spoke in Marathi, told the House that the government has given equal standing to Marathi language in line with Konkani for day-to-day State administrative functioning. “Since 1987, we have brought in as many as ten notifications giving powers to Marathi language,” he said adding that considering the fact the question of giving special status does not arise.
Earlier moving the resolution, Sawal said the BJP government during its election campaign had assured Marathi lovers to consider their demand of giving official language status to Marathi and hence the government should fulfill its promise.
Wagh, supporting the resolution, said that while Konkani remained the language of speech Marathi continues to dominate as the language of administration. “Though we talk about Konkani, there are different scripts we adopt for speaking and writing,” he stated.
The resolution was opposed by Sardesai and GVP MLA Caetano (Caitu) Silva, who said that Goa’s unique identity with its Konkani language be maintained. They said that the Opinion Poll was held to ensure that Goa retains its identity with the language and thousands of people voted in its favour.
