Team Herald
MARGAO: The Global Konknni Forum (GKF) sought to clarify its recent choice of slogan, “Amdharak Bhett - Kodel zai vo Romi zai” (Meet the MLA – Do you want the chair or Romi script?), which has sparked public discussion.
GKF stated that the slogan was carefully selected by its core committee to encapsulate the sentiments of the people and the aspirations related to the Romi script issue.
GKF president Kennedy Afonso, explained that the slogan was not intended as a threat to the MLAs but rather as a question meant to encourage them to evaluate their priorities. He stressed that the GKF respects the autonomy of the MLAs and will accept whichever decision they make. “They are free to exercise their own free will,” Afonso added.
The slogan, Afonso continued, resonates deeply with the public’s desires. He said that the people of Goa would see whether the MLAs support the cause of Romi script when the State Assembly meets in December. GKF believes that two Bills related to the Romi script will be tabled, and they have appealed to the MLAs to rise in support of them.
According to Afonso, those MLAs who stand up to speak in favour of the Bills will demonstrate that they value the Romi script and are in alignment with their constituents’ wishes. Conversely, failure to support the Bills, despite having received resolutions from their constituency’s Gram Sabhas and direct appeals from their voters, would signal that they prioritise their positions over the public’s demand for Romi script recognition.
“It’s a conscious decision. The MLAs will be taking decisions as per their own discretion and wisdom in the august House,” he said. GKF also clarified that the slogan had only been featured on the organisation’s posters and had not been directly posed to any MLAs in their meetings. Afonso recounted a meeting with Curtorim MLA Aleixo Reginaldo Lourenco, and confirmed that no one asked him “Kodel zai vo Romi Lipi zai?” In fact, Afonso said Lourenco himself had inquired about the slogan after the discussion. He expressed confidence that Lourenco, given his history of being elected on a Save Goa Front (SGF) ticket with Romi script as a core manifesto issue, would rise in support of the Bills during the December session and galvanize other MLAs, particularly those in the ruling BJP, to ensure the Bills’ passage.
Afonso also clarified a point regarding MLA Cruz Silva, noting that the GKF did not claim Cruz was the only MLA who had raised the Romi script issue in the Assembly. Instead, Afonso explained that during the last session, many MLAs, particularly those representing the same community, did not support Cruz when he spoke on the matter.