Team Herald
MARGAO: Global Konknni Forum (GFK) has urged people to come forward to form a delegation in each constituency and meet their respective MLAs, to ask for his/her stand on Konkani in Roman script and to request the concerned MLA to propose and pass a Bill in the Assembly to give equal status to Roman script, by amending the Official Language Act 1987.
GKF added that they will seek appointments with these MLAs to assist the delegation in finalising a date, time and place to meet them.
GKF added that it is time to ask these MLAs if they are interested in keeping their seats or are interested in the common demand of the people - for Romi Konkani to be recognised as Goa’s official language on part with the Devanagari script.
GKF President, Kennedy Afonso said that the question is not whether the Official Language Act can be amended or not but if this government is willing to take such action, as if they are not going to do so, then it is time to bring in a new government who will take the necessary steps and grant justice to Romi Konkani.
On Sunday, Afonso had explained how the amendment can be brought in and how the Official Language Act violates fundamental and legal rights of the minority population of Goa, which are enshrined in the Constitution.
While a large number of village gram sabhas have already passed resolutions in support of GKF’s demands, last month, at a mega meeting with the public, another two resolutions were passed.
The forum and the large crowd had demanded that Romi Konkani be taught in schools by the next academic year and called for a bill to be passed in the upcoming Winter Assembly Session, granting equal status for Roman script.