CM avoids MoI & Marathi issues at Konkani Sammelan
GOANEWS DESK, PANAJI | 16 February 2013 09:57 IST
CM Parrikar speaking at 21st Konkani Literary Conference
Chief minister Manohar Parrikar appears to be conveniently avoiding the issues of giving grants to English medium primary schools and making Marathi official language.
Both the issues were raised by Goa Konkani Academy president Pundalik Naik at the 21st All India Konkani Sahitya Sammelan, which started in Margao yesterday.
Naik reminded Parrikar, who was the chief guest at the inaugural function, that the issue of medium of instruction is still not being resolved.
"Resolve the issue in next two to three months", he urged the chief minister.
Naik also warned that neither the Konkani movement nor the young brigade would keep quite if the government decides touch the Official Language Act and make Marathi the official language.
Bharatiya Janata Party MLA Vishnu Wagh has announced that he would bring an amendment bill in the Assembly to make Marathi the official language as it is BJP's policy decision.
In his address, Parrikar however conveniently avoided reacting to both the controversial issues.
He however spoke at length how his government is promoting Konkani as the official language.
After training the IAS officials in Konkani language, Parrikar announced that government would appoint two to three translators in each department to translate all its official documents in Konkani.
He also lauded speaker Rajendra Arlekar for conducting most of the proceedings of the Assembly in Konkani.
"Even my budget speech this year would be partly in Konkani", announced the chief minister.
