Goa Legislative Assembly today debated the issue of official language in the state with Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar assuring that both Konkani and Marathi languages will get due share as per the law.
Independent legislator Vijay Sardesai raised the issue on the floor of the House during the Question Hour alleging that Marathi had managed to get "back door entry" into the Official Language Act through different notifications issued till 2010.
"Konkani has no special status in Goa. Through different notifications Marathi has managed to get the back door entry. The notifications issued by former Congress government have given it an equal status," Sardesai said.
As per the reply tabled on the floor of the House, Konkani language in Devnagri script will be the official language for "all or any of the official purposes of the state of Goa" and Marathi will also be used.
BJP legislator Vishnu Surya Wagh, who was apparently upset over Sardesai's statement, intervened to claim that "Marathi's status in Goa is not because of its position in the Official Language Act. No one could disturb the position of Marathi in Goa."
The issue of the official language has witnessed protests in 1987 by pro-Konkani and pro-Marathi protagonists.
Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar, urging the members not to create unwanted controversy over the matter, said, "If we fight over the issue, Konkani language would be damaged as Marathi already has its base in Maharashtra."
"I will not allow the issue to be cropped up again," he said, adding that the working of the Assembly was already being conducted in Konkani language.
"We have forced the IAS officers to learn basics of Konkani," he said.
