TEAM HERALD
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MARGAO: Konkani Bhasha Mandal (KBM) has warned against any change in the Official language Act passed in 1987 by the Goa government.
“We will not entertain any change in the Act”, warned BM President Chetan Acharya, saying the unholy unison of the Romi and Marathi proponents will only add to a faster demise of both these groups.
He said these groups have further exposed their idiocy by terming Konkani as only a dialect even after it has been accorded the status of an independent language by the Sahitya Academy and has been included in the Eighth Schedule of Indian Constitution. “Not even one percent people in Goa speak Marathi and hence KBM has suggested that, those demanding the official language status for Marathi should as soon as possible pack their bags and leave for Maharashtra. Before doing so, proponents of Marathi like Pradip Ghadi Amonkar and others who cannot speak any other language properly then Konkani should learn Marathi properly so that they are not thrown out of Maharashtra,” Acharya said.
While strongly condemning Fr Pratap Naik who after coming to Goa from outside has been trying to divide the Goans on the basis of religion and caste, Acharya sought to know whether Fr Pratap want the Portuguese rule back in Goa by narrating stories of Portuguese times. “Who has given the authority to Fr Pratap Naik to declare that the Catholic community in Goa has no problem if Marathi as well as Konkani in Roman script is made joint official languages of Goa”, he said, adding “As of today, the number of Konkani learning students in Goa University, colleges and higher secondary schools is much more than the Marathi learning students. KBM has advised the unethical unison to check the numbers before making its statements”.
