PANAJI: By remaining aloof of the Konkani language as medium of instruction (MoI) and promoting English as MoI at primary level of education, the most affected will be the Christian community, stated Fr Mousinho Athaide.
Addressing the media, Fr Athaide, who is a member of Bhartiya Bhasha Suraksha Manch (BBSM) and the Christian face of the anti-English movement, said “The most affected by English language will be the Christians and the biggest damage will be done to the Christian community as they will be left aloof from the culture of Goa.”
He further said that being a priest many Christians question him about his allegiance to the BBSM which is opposed to the Diocesan Society of Education (DSE). He said that DSE is just a part of the church and not the church.
“DSE is not the church, it is just a department. As far as the church is concerned, the Bishop has never spoken on the issue. And I shall always oblige by the Bishop’s order on religion and not education”, he said.
Meanwhile, responding to media reports that state BJP unit led by the Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar met BJP national president Amit Shah and demanded change in guard in the RSS state unit, Subhash Velingkar the RSS Goa unit chief said that the BJP since its formation neither had mandate to appoint, promote nor to change RSS leadership.
However, he further said that despite all the efforts put in by the BJP-led government to curtail the BBSM’s public meeting in Sanquelim, the organisation will hold the meeting at the municipality grounds on April 30, even if it meant that they would have to court arrest.