DKA President Lotlikar accuses Fr Pratap of trying to dislodge him
Says Fr Pratap is trying to accord equal status to Marathi
Says seven Goans sacrificed their lives for Konkani and not Marathi
TEAM HERALD
teamherald@herald-goa.com
MARGAO: Dissensions in the Dalgado Konknni Akademi (DKA) came out in the open on Sunday with Akademi President Premanand Lotlikar publicly accusing Fr Pratap Naik for attempts to dislodge him from office through an Amendment.
An emotionally choked Lotlikar dared Fr Pratap Naik to dislodge him from office, reminding him that Goans had shed blood for the cause of Konkani and not to accord status for Marathi.
Lotlikar hit out at Fr Pratap at a function organised by the Akademi at the Ravindra Bhavan, Margao, to mark the release of three new Konkani books, namely Tuji Xokti, Zagor and Ragan Kazar Mogan Divors on Sunday.
“I and my colleagues have received an overwhelming and clear cut mandate from Akademi members to hold the reigns of the Akademi for the third time. But, this has not gone down well with Fr Pratp and others. Fr Pratap first wrote an insulting letter to me and circulated the same amongst the members. The letter was also posted on the internet insulting me,” he told the gathering.
Lotlikar alleged that Fr Pratap and his group are now out on a signature campaign amongst the members in order to bring an Amendment to the constitution. “The Amendment seeks to debar any past president and the incumbent president from holding office for more than two terms. What Fr Pratap is trying to do is what he could not do in the election, which have given me a clear cut mandate,” he said.
He reminded Fr Pratap that seven martyrs had sacrificed their life only to make Konkani the sole official language of Goa. “Those who had died for Konkani were all Goans. They were not from Mangalore. They had sacrificed their lives for Konkani, fought against Marathi and certainly not to give status for Marathi,” he added.
