Congress accuses BJP for raking up official language issue in Goa

PANAJI: Hitting out at ruling BJP over the official language issue, Goa Congress today said the government should not try to dig up the past as the matter was resolved a long time ago by choosing Konkani.

State Legislative Assembly had on August 12 passed a unanimous resolution demanding that Marathi be made official language of the state along with Konkani, but with a rider that stakeholders be taken into confidence.

"Goa is not ready for another language agitation. Let us not bring the ghost of official language back in the state. Let us not try to divide a peaceful Goa on the language issue. Let us not polarise Goans," Congress' Goa chief Luizinho Faleiro told reporters at a press conference.

The official language agitation in 1987 saw thousands of Goans courting arrest to get Konkani declared as the language of the state.

"The official language struggle was to protect identity of Goa. People are not ready for such agitation now," he said.

Faleiro, the former chief minister of Goa, also questioned the agenda behind the recent move to introduce Marathi as official language of the state alongside Konkani.

"I would like to know what the hidden agenda behind amending official language act. What is the ulterior motive?" he asked.