Team Goemkarponn
Panaji: Heated arguments broke out in the Goa Assembly after MLA Jit Arolkar demanded that Marathi be accorded the status of Raj Bhasha and be recognised as the second official language of the state.
Raising the matter during Zero Hour, Arolkar stressed on the deep religious and cultural significance of Marathi in Goa’s history and society.
The proposal received backing from Minister Sudin Dhavalikar, who supported the demand, stating that Marathi has played a vital role in Goa’s religious literature, traditions, and education system.
However, the Opposition strongly opposed the move, arguing that the Goa Official Language Act, which currently recognises Konkani as the sole official language of the state, must not be undermined. Members asserted that raising such demands within the Assembly without moving a proper legislative amendment amounted to a violation of established procedure.
The matter quickly escalated into a heated exchange, with members from both sides defending their linguistic and cultural positions. Speaker Ramesh Tawadkar eventually had to intervene to restore order in the House.
This is not the first time the language issue has sparked debate in Goa’s legislature. While Marathi continues to be widely spoken and studied in the state, efforts to grant it official status have long remained a point of contention.
