Panaji: Congress leader Amarnath Panjikar on Sunday said that Konkani, the official language of the state, should be used for official works and should be promoted through several platforms.
Whilst wishing the people of Goa on the official language day, Panjikar said that because of Konkani lovers and their movement of 555 days helped Konkani to get the identity.
“Former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi helped people of Goa to decide upon the official language first , which was the basic criteria for the statehood. Later on 4 February 1987, the Goa Legislative Assembly passed the Official Language Bill, making Konkani the official language of Goa,” he said, adding Konkani is our identity.
He said that with the efforts of Rajiv Gandhi Konkani was included in the Eighth Schedule to the Constitution of India as per the Seventy-First Amendment on 20 August 1992.
“On 30 may 1987 Rajiv Gandhi gifted Goa a statehood,” he said.
“Now it is our duty to preserve and promote Konkani language. Government should organise programs through Goa Konkani Akademi and support youths to create literature,” he said.
