Team Goemkarponn
PERNEM: The State government came under sharp criticism at a Marathi language meet in Pernem, with former Goa RSS chief Subhash Velingkar alleging that the ruling BJP is deliberately shutting down Marathi medium schools while extending support to English medium private institutions.
Addressing the Marathi Rajya Bhasha Karyakarta Prakhand Melava, Velingkar claimed that the promotion of English education by the Pramod Sawant-led government is a calculated move aimed at weakening Goa’s local culture and linguistic heritage.
He said that while Marathi schools are left struggling due to poor funding and policy neglect, English medium institutions are flourishing with government support.
Velingkar questioned the State’s priorities, stating that such a direction threatens the identity of Goans.
“The idea of ‘Asmita’ (identity) being promoted today is rooted in a distorted version of culture once propagated by colonial powers,” he remarked.
Calling for political mobilisation, Velingkar urged Marathi supporters to come together as a unified “Marathi vote bank” to demand greater recognition and support for the language.
He asserted that candidates contesting the 2027 Assembly elections must openly support the demand for Marathi to be declared the official language of Goa.
“This is a decisive moment. There can be no compromise. Marathi must be made the State language,” Velingkar declared, amid chants and slogans from attendees in support of the cause.
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