MARGAO: The delegation of All Associations of Roman Script Konkani submitted a memorandum to the BJP urging the saffron party to include in its election manifesto the association’s demand to accord equal status to Konkani in the Roman script.
The delegation led by Premanand A Lotlikar, former president of Dalgado Konknni Akademi (DKA) and a renowned tiatrist, presented a memorandum to Sadanand Shet Tanavade, president of Bharatiya Janata Party (Goa Pradesh) to include in its election manifesto the association’s demand to accord equal status to Konkani in the Roman script by making a suitable amendment in the Goa Official Language Act, 1987.
The memorandum was presented to Tanavade at the BJP headquarters in Panjim. Other representatives who accompanied Lotlikar included Fr Kelvin Monteiro SJ, Walter Menezes, Fausto Da Costa, Anthony Menezes, Savio Pinto and Pio Esteves.
Before presenting the memorandum, Lotlikar briefed Tanavade about the crucial role played by the people of Goa who have traditionally been writing in their mother tongue Konkani in the Roman script.
Recounting the massive support extended by this section of Goans during the Opinion Poll and the language agitation and the sacrifices they made, he reminded the BJP president that great injustice was done when a ‘definition of Konkani’ was introduced in the Goa Official Language Act, 1987 which states that ‘Konkani means Konkani language written in the Devnagri script’.
Lotlikar impressed upon Tanavade the need to undo this great injustice by including the demand of the association in the election manifesto of the party and making the necessary amendment in the Goa Official Language Act, 1987 in the event of their party forming the government in Goa after the ensuing elections.
Tanavade gave a patient hearing and assured that he would examine the contents of the memorandum and consider accordingly.
The association intends to present similar memorandums to the national and regional parties based in Goa in the coming days.
