The Global Romi Lipi Abhiyan (GRLA) has called on voters to make Roman script Konka ni a central issue in the upcoming Zilla Panchayat (ZP) elections, urging them to back candidates who openly support and champion the cause of Romi Konkani. Describing the ZP polls as a ‘trailer’ to the forth coming Assembly elec tions, the GRLA said the is sue of Romi Konkani would play a significant role in future political alignments and in the formation of the next government in Goa. In a press statement, the GRLA said elections to local bodies offer people a rare opportunity, once every five years, to bring about change and hold political parties accounta ble. The organisation said past experience has shown that parties voted to pow er often fail to listen to the voice of the people once elected, instead choosing to appease select sections while ignoring broader public demands. Referring to the demand to introduce Roman script Konkani in schools, the GRLA recalled that reso lutions to this effect were passed by 56 gram sabhas across Goa. However, the organisation said the BJP government and its MLAs rejected the resolution in the Legislative Assembly, even though it was tabled by Adv Carlos Alvares Fer reira and supported by four opposition parties. The GRLA said the ZP elections present an op portunity for voters to send a clear message by rejecting candidates who do not support Romi Konkani, including those fielded by the BJP as well as candidates backed by defecting MLAs aligned with the ruling par ty. Instead, it appealed to voters to support ZP can didates who are willing to include clear commit ments to Roman script Konkani in their election manifestos.
If you enjoyed reading this article, you can help support our journalism by adding OHeraldo as a preferred source.
Salcete wins crucial for challenging BJP in Goa, says GFP chief
MARGAO: Goa Forward Par ty (GFP) president Sardesai campaigned for Congress candidate Julio Fernandes in the Velim ZP constituency on Monday, asserting that electoral victories in Salcete would be crucial to mounting a broader challenge to the BJP in Goa. Addressing meetings at Chinchinim and other parts of the constituency, he said de feating the BJP in Salcete was an important first step, adding that sustained unity among opposition parties could pave the way for a change in govern ment in the state in the 2027 Assembly elections. He campaigned alongside South Goa Congress District president Savio D’Silva and Goa Pradesh Congress Com mittee (GPCC) general secre tary Adv Archit Naik. During his address, Sarde sai took aim at the Aam Aad mi Party (AAP), stating that Goa did not need to follow any external governance model and was capable of evolving its own Goa-specific solutions to local problems. He said issues such as pollution and civic governance could not be addressed by importing mod els from elsewhere. He also questioned the BJP’s electoral strategy in the con stituency, referring to the party not fielding an official candi date and suggesting that the situation had led to speculation about attempts to split votes. Sardesai referred to local po litical developments, including the candidature of a sarpanch contesting as an independent after being expelled from his party. Sardesai praised the perfor mance of the sitting Congress ZP member from the constit uency, who is seeking re-elec tion, and credited the Congress with development work car ried out in the State over the past several decades. Referring to governance under the present BJP gov ernment, Sardesai cited re marks made by Utpal Par rikar, son of former Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar, on alleged corruption in the State. He said the term ‘hafta’ had come to symbolise the manner in which permis sions and clearances were allegedly being obtained, and reiterated the call for a ‘haf ta audit’ to identify who was benefiting from corruption and irregularities. Touching upon recent in cidents, including the fire at Arpora, Sardesai said such events highlighted govern ance failures and lapses in oversight. Referring to Salcete’s his torical role, Sardesai said the freedom movement in Goa had important beginnings in Assolna, pointing to Lohia Chowk as a symbol of resist ance. He praised not just As solna but the entire Salcete taluka for its contribution to shaping Goa’s political and social history, stating that the region had consistently stood up to defend the State’s iden tity and interests. Urging voters to support the Congress candidate, Sardesai said that if Congress and the GFP were to form the next government, priority would be given to strength ening ZPs by devolving great er powers and ensuring in creased financial allocations from departments such as the Rural Development Agen cy (RDA). He accused the BJP of weakening the ZP institution by reducing it to a political tool, alleging that local body elections were being used to promote national leadership while core issues affecting rural governance were being neglected. He said greater at tention and resources would be directed towards revitalis ing the ZP system if the oppo sition came to power.
