Marathi divides the politicians, who unite on no-confidence motion
PTI, PANAJI | 12 August 2016 21:10 IST
The Goa Assembly, perhaps at the last sitting of the existing Assembly, witnessed an interesting divide on two different motions – a no confidence motion against the government and making Marathi the official language.
The no confidence motion, as expected, was defeated by 25 versus 14 votes.
20 of the BJP (excluding the speaker), 3 of the MGP and two independents – Minister Avertano Furtado and independent Benjamin Silva voted against the motion.
Congress MLA Mauvin Godinho spoke against the motion but voted in favour of the motion.
Besides 7 other Congressmen, voted in favour were unattached Babush Monseratte, Mickky Pacheco and Caitu Silva of Goa Vikas Party and three independents – Vijai Sardesai, Rohan Khaunte and Naresh Sawal.
But this was not the scenario when Sawal moved a private member’s resolution to make Marathi the official language.
Sardesai accused his comrade’s move and said that making Marathi official language would open the floodgates to Maharasthrians to seek jobs in Goa.
BJP MLAs like Vishnu Wagh and Subhash Phaldesai supported the resolution while even terming Konkani as a dialect and Marathi the real language and culture of Goa.
Congress rebel Mauvin Godinho also joined his party colleague Alex Reginald Lourenco as well as GVP legislators Mickky Pacheco and Caitu Silva in opposing the resolution.
“I have not understood what motion is moved”, said Benjamin Silva.
Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar described this resolution as ‘politics of language’ to divide Goans.
“Reading the resolution to move it itself is an indication of how much concerned he is about Marathi”, he hinted at Sawal.
The resolution was allowed only after incorporating an amendment moved by Siddharth Kuncalienker that a decision to make Marathi official language be taken only after consulting the public at large.
