Team Herald
PANJIM: Romi Konkani proponents have warned the Goa government to recognise their demand for official language status or face protests and legal action.
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Marking the anniversary of the passing of Goa’s Official Language Act (OLA), which excluded the Romi script, activists staged a peaceful demonstration at Azad Maidan on Tuesday. Despite 555 days of protest, they claimed their demand for equal recognition under Articles 14 and 29(1) of the Constitution remains ignored.
Antonio Alvares, Treasurer of the Global Konknni Forum (GKF), criticised those who had once fought for Romi Konkani but later remained silent. “The turnout today reflects the growing frustration among Goans. The government must act, or we will take this fight to court,” he said.
GKF Secretary Jose Salvador Fernandes blamed political leadership for sidelining Romi Konkani when OLA was enacted in 1987, granting official language status solely to the Devanagari script. “For 38 years, Romi Konkani writers, followers, and lovers have been fighting this injustice,” he stated.
Francis Fernandes, Vice President of GKF, urged political leaders to step forward and support the movement, calling it a matter of preserving Goa’s culture and linguistic heritage.
GKF Treasurer Aplonia Rebello reaffirmed that protests would continue until Romi Konkani is granted official status. “This is our constitutional right, and the government will have to listen,” he
asserted.
