ROMI DEAL There are very strong indications that the fanatic Pratap Naik has struck a deal with the RSS Chief, Subhas Velinkar. The RSS brigade and even senior BJP leaders have been making statements that the only languages which deserve to be official languages in Goa are Marathi and Konkani in the Roman script. The objective is to marginalise the secular elements in the Konkani movement who have always strongly condemned the RSS conspiracy to polarise Goa along communal lines. The BJP and the RSS have been extending support to the demand for equal status for Romi Konkani as the official language of the State. Not because they are interested in Romi Konkani but because it serves their purpose of dividing Goa on communal lines. I understand that the deal between Pratap Naik, who has been the most hysterical of those demanding equal official language status for Romi Konkani, is that the RSS and the BJP will extend full support to Romi Konkani. Aparently Parrikar and Velingkar assured Pratap Naik that the BJP would support any amendment to confer equal status to Romi Konkani in the Legislative Assembly. In return, apparently, Pratap Naik has assured Subhash Velingkar that the Romi Konkani leaders will support or at least not oppose the demand for equal status for Marathi. It is unfortunate that the Romi Konkani leaders and even some prominent parish priests have fallen into the RSS trap. I would like to reiterate that the best solution would be to amend the Official Language Act to provide that Romi Konkani along with Marathi shall be used for any or all official purposes, including the knowledge of Konkani for recruitment to government jobs. To meet the legitimate grievances of the Romi Konkaniwadis, it can also be stipulated that they will get equal representation an patronage in all official language bodies. (Stray thoughts by Rajan Narayan in the Goan Observer)
FR. NAIK'S CLARIFICATION: Fr. Pratap Naik castigated Mr Rajan Narayan for fomenting confusion associating him with Mr Subhash Velingker stating that the two were hand in glove to pursue the Romi issue and as a quid pro quo support the demand for Marathi as official language. He said that his demand is for Konkani in Roman script with Devanagari . He questioned Mr Narayan -- how could a man ---referring to RSS chief in Goa Mr Subhash Velingker a teacher,----- who had in his article called St Francis Xavier "Sant or Saitan" in Sunaparant daily be linked to Fr Pratap Naik? Fr Naik stated that most of the Press resorted to distortion of news and provoked confusion. _______________________________________________ Goanet mailing list [email protected] http://lists.goanet.org/listinfo.cgi/goanet-goanet.org
