PANJIM/MARGAO: The granting of official language status to Konkani was a triumph for the mother tongue of Goans. While Konkani was made the official language, Marathi was to be used for official purposes. Herald Media asked people since the language issue caused much division and violence, should the language controversy be re-opened to divide Goans?
This attempt by Subhash Velingkar and his gang is to divide the Goan society on linguistic and religious lines. The Official Language issue was solved long ago. Since then several attempts were made to rake up the issue, but these attempts were not successful. Now to raise it again is something ridiculous. What is the problem with Subash Velingkar, he wants to stay in the limelight at any cost. It is seen that after Bharatiya Bhasha Suraksha Manch agitation all the agitations which he started, have failed. So now he and his coterie have started this new controversy, so he has rushed into this vacuum. His attempt to create vote banks is absolutely rubbish. This controversy will go nowhere, since Goans have decided that their official language is Konkani and it will not go anywhere. The status given to Marathi will remain. So Goans will not fall prey to this attempt to divide Goans on linguistic and religious lines.
Prashant Naik, Konkani Activist
It will not only divide people, it will destroy Goa. There are enough issues that Goa and Goans have to handle. This Velingkar who has once again raked up the issue, he is spearheading this movement, has already proved a fraud to the people of Goa. Because in 2012, this Velingkar was the main campaigner of the BJP which was led by none other than late Manohar Parrikar. What was their theme, that Mai Bhas should be the medium of instruction. By then they knew that there would be no takers for Konkani but a lot of takers for Marathi. By doing this, these elements were trying to keep the majority of the population, the downtrodden there only by not allowing them to rise. English medium is the only way for prosperity. However, the party came to power, but they kept English as the medium of instruction, because they realized they were not voted for Mai Bhas but they voted negatively against the then corrupt Congress.
Trajano D’Mello Political Commentator
The attempt to raise the language controversy may have been planned some time ago. We know from the outset that Konkani is the language of Goans. But people were also speaking Marathi in Goa. And people were also doing their primary education in Marathi. But now should we break each other's heads because of language? Who has forbidden anyone to speak any language. I like Portuguese. Who can stop me from talking Portuguese? You want to play politics with language? This should not happen in Goa. You have already tried to divide Hindus and Muslims. Last time you killed people of the ST community. How? Along caste lines. This time people have decided not to vote for them and they know that they will not come back to power. So now they have raised the bogey of language.
Tanoj Adwalpalkar Social Activist