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PONDA: Followers of Marathi language under the banner ‘Marathi Rajya Bhasha Andolan’ on Friday threatened to work against BJP during the forthcoming Lok Sabha polls if Marathi is not given official State language status.
According to members, the movement of the Marathi Rajya Bhasha Andolan was launched few months ago with a one-day ‘dharna’ at Panjim. The members have planned a massive movement and are determined to achieve the goal.
Addressing media at Ponda, Marathi Rajya Bhasha Andolan Convenor Pradip Ghadi Amonkar said, “Since the last four months we have been working on individual level, but from Saturday the movement is set to grow.”
“We won’t keep quiet until the State government declares Marathi language as the State language on par with Konkani language. We will work against BJP during the forthcoming Lok Sabha polls as Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar during the assembly session ruled out any change to the Official Language Act,” stated Amonkar.
“We are not against Konkani language, but if you see today there are several Marathi newspapers. Marathi newspapers have got more readership and everyone knows how many readers are there for the Konkani newspapers in the State,” added Amonkar.
The Marathi Rajya Bhasha Andolan has organised a meeting at Ponda on Saturday to discuss its future course of action.
“Before the assembly election, Parrikar had assured that Marathi language will be given official language status on par with Konkani language. We will plan our agitation in such a way that the government will be forced to accept our demand,” said a member Damu Naik.
