PANAJI: Hoping that good sense would prevail and the conscience of new Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar would compel him to withdraw the government grants to the English medium primary schools in Goa, the Bharatiya Bhasha Suraksha Manch on Tuesday stated that it would continue with its agitation against these grants until the issue reaches its logical end.
BBSM convenor Subhash Velingkar told ‘The Navhind Times’ that irrespective of which political parties are the alliance partners of the new government, and what are their views on the government grants to the English medium primary schools, the Manch would continue to press its demand before the government.
“The new Chief Minister is fully aware of the consequences of continuing these grants, as he had spoken against them in the state legislative assembly in the capacity of Opposition leader,” he recalled, maintaining that even though continuing these grants was the politically-motivated decision of the previous Bharatiya Janata Party government, the new Chief Minister, conscious of the repercussions of continuing these grants, should stop them from the forthcoming academic year.
“The medium of instruction issue pertains to the future as well as cultural identity of Goa, and hence the BBSM will not give up this issue, unless and until our demand is fulfilled,” Velingkar concluded.
The BBSM had recently decided to reactivate its 19 regional committees. The BBSM, during the month, will also hold more meetings to decide on the organisational structure of these committees, besides holding related events.
Goa Suraksha Manch, the political faction of the BBSM, which contested the recent state assembly election, had failed to win a single seat.
On the other hand, Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party, which was the coalition partner of the GSM along with Shiv Sena, left the GSM in the lurch, and tied up with the BJP to be part of the new government by virtually discarding the MoI issue.
A senior BBSM member and chairman of the political cell of the Manch, Uday Bhembre said the MoI agitation would continue until the government changes its policy as regards its grants to the English medium primary schools in the state.
“We know that the MGP and independent MLA, Govind Gaude, who are supporting the government, will back the BBSM demand when the time comes,” he added, pointing out, “However, the BJP and the Goa Forward Party have already made their stand clear to continue with the government grants to these schools.”
“Nevertheless, we will continue our agitation until our demand is met, irrespective of what the components of the government feel about it,” Bhembre maintained, adding that the BBSM has already decided to reactivate its committees, and would be changing its mode of its agitation.
“The modalities as regards change in the mode of agitation however remain to be chalked out,” he revealed.