Govt rejects official language status to Konkani in Roman script

Panaji, July 23 (UNI) The Goa government today categorically ruled out according official language status on Konkani written in Roman script.

Chief Minister Digambar Kamat made this clear in a single line written reply to Fransisco D'Souza (BJP) tabled in the state Legislative Assembly.

The House had on last Friday rejected the resolution of the UGDP on the same issue with Chief Minister saying he supports both the scripts.

This had dampened the Save Goa Front and its ally United Goans Democratic Party which championed the cause of Konkani in Roman script much before the June 2 elections to the State Legislative Assembly and later.

The SGF president Churchil Alemao had even proposed to support any party that would be ready to concede its seven demands including the script issue. He had even resigned from the Congress as South Goa MP on this and other issues.

Both the SGF and the UGDP had been supporting the Congress-led coalition government on ''issue basis from outside''.

At present, Konkani written in Devnagari had got the official status since the formation of the State in 1987 but certain associations including the church had been demanding official status on Roman script saying it had been written by a majority in Goa.

The church had even sent memoranda to the President and voiced its concern over the issue at many fora.

UNI