Marathi Bachao Andolan vows to intensify agitation to save culture

Panaji, July 25 (UNI) Protagonists of the Marathi Bachao Andolan have vowed to intensify their agitation seeking equal status to the language on par with the official Konkani in the state in a bid to save the prestine culture.

''If the government does not heed to our demand, we will step up our agitation in each of the 40 constituencies to seek support of the masses and the government would be held responsible for whatever would turnout later,''the organisers said.

The agitators, who led an impressive rally, majority of them women, braving rain, warned the government, particularly Education Minister Luizinho Faleiro, not to close down the Marathi primary schools to replace them with English medium as it amounts to cultural aggression.

The Andolan led by former chief minister Sashikala Kakodkar, demanded the chief minister Pratapsingh Rane for immediate removal of Education Minister Luizinho Faleiro who was working against the genuine interests of the majority Marathi supporters.

The protagonists thronged the histroic Azad Maidan, in the heart of the city raising slogans, demanding justice to the Marathi language schools.The participants included prominent representatives of different cultural organisations like the Gomantak Marathi Academy.

They also opposed the demand of Catholic minorities for recognising the Roman Script Konkani as it would divide the society on communal lines.

Prominent among those present in the audience included BJP opposition leader Manohar Parrikar, the party State President Rajendra Arlekar, North Goa MP Shripad Naik.

The rally concluded with the participants taking an oath to protest the Marathi language and its culture and repulsing efforts to oppose it.

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