The flags were flown at the houses of the party member’s but what is important in an election, and BJP cannot ignore that, is not just the votes of the party members, but of the ordinary people. And if there are 1.20 lakh houses that flew the BJP flag on Wednesday, then there will be as many other houses who are not going to be happy about the party’s South Goa MP’s statement that MoI bill that is currently with the House Committee should not be placed before the Assembly.
Narendra Sawaikar’s contention is that the solution that the party found for the MoI issue was the best available and no other party could have come up with a solution of that nature. The decision taken in 2014, when Manohar Parrikar was the chief minister of the State, was rather simple, that grants being given to 132 English schools should continue but no schools starting after that and opting for English as the MoI would be given grants. That has been accepted by those demanding grants to English primary schools and that part is not being disputed. The dispute is over legislating the cabinet decision on the MoI. What parents across Goa are asking is that the decision to give grants be made a law. It’s a valid request as legislating this cabinet decision will give legal validity to the disbursement of grants. If, as Sawaikar points out, it is the best possible solution and BJP can take pride in this, why is the party hesitating to legislate the same decision?
BJP’s reluctance to legalise the decision is an admission on its part that the party is not serious about continuing the grants to English medium schools. When the party is so quick to amend laws that will declassify coconut trees as trees, the unwillingness to convert the MoI decision into a law begs the question of why. And the answer is purely political. BJP does not want to alienate its core support group, not with an Assembly election just months away. Sawaikar may have announced that the party was not with the BBSM, but BJP cannot ignore the fact that the BBSM has many members who are its voters, and even, as Sawaikar himself pointed out, belong to organizations that are affiliated to the Sangh Parivar. Against this background, the BJP will try its best to please it core supporters while attempting to keep the others in good humour.
In the case of the MoI BJP is attempting a fine balancing act on a tight rope. It has not withdrawn grants to English medium schools, but it is not acquiescing to the demands made by FORCE to legislate the cabinet decision. It has also not bowed down to BBSM’s demand to withdraw grants to English medium primary schools. It perhaps hopes that it can continue to walk the middle path till the next elections. But, it may just have taken the game a little too far. BBSM announced that it could lend support to other parties and BJP went on a public platform to remind the BBSM leaders that they belong to the Sangh Parivar and that ‘enough is enough’. Like an errant school boy is brought to book, BJP wants to rein in the BBSM and make it toe the party line. And it sent out the message on the day it flew the party flag atop its members’ houses.
The party may send flags across the State, but it must remember that flags won’t win it the next election, votes will and parents will vote for what is best for their children’s future regardless of the flag flying atop their house.
