Team Herald
PANJIM: The Bharatiya Bhasha Suraksha Manch (BBSM) staged a two-hour dharna at 19 different locations across the State on Liberation Day, Saturday, demanding that government stop giving grants to English medium primary schools.
Protesting the government’s U-turn on Medium of Instruction, BBSM has also been demanding that the legislation on its cabinet decision giving grants to English medium schools should not be cleared in the winter session of the Assembly session. The group has warned of intensifying the agitation if the government defies them.
In the capital, the Panjim Prabhag held a dharna near Maruti Temple at KTC Bus Stand from 10.30am to 12.30pm. BBSM’s central committee had decided to hold dharnas at 19 places on Liberation Day.
Meanwhile, Panjim police had earlier detained two persons for showing black flags during the Liberation Day function at Campal grounds. They were later released.
…threatens to intensify agitation
MARGAO: Bharatiya Bhasha Suraksha Manch (BBSM) held a demonstration opposite the old Margao collectorate on Saturday to demand the withdrawal of grants to English medium primary schools. During the protest, BBSM leader Uday Bhembre stated, “I think we will have to hold a massive agitation like the ones in the past as the government and its representatives, like former CM Manohar Parrikar and MGP Minister Sudin Dhavalikar, who spoke in our language, now don’t look like they will keep their word.” He also demanded that the BJP government stop contradicting its stand on the MoI issue and withdraw grants to English medium schools. He further stated that the BJP government, in its 2012 election manifesto, had favoured the regional languages. “If the government does not fulfill its promises, then BBSM won’t hesitate to hold meetings across the state and intensify its agitation,” said Bhembre.
…Stages demonstration in Vasco
VASCO: Over 50 members of Bharatiya Bhasha Suraksha Manch (BBSM) staged a demonstration opposite the municipality building in Vasco on Saturday to demand the withdrawal of grants to English medium schools. The two-hour protest started at 10 am and was attended by freedom fighters and teachers, among others.
Speaking to reporters, freedom fighter and BBSM member Srikant Abha Dhargalkar expressed disappointment with the government’s decision on the MoI issue and said that he had never dreamed of people being forced to protest on Liberation Day.“It is sad that we have gathered here to protest the government’s decision on the MoI. I feel that anyone who enters politics forgets what he has promised to the people when he was just an ordinary man. This is what has happened today; our leaders have forgotten what they had promised when they were in the opposition. But we will press for our demands until we get justice,” said Dhargalkar.
