Team Herald
PANJIM: Talks between Bharatiya Bhasha Suraksha Manch (BBSM) and Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar on the controversy concerning the Medium of Instruction (MoI) remained inconclusive with the latter seeking another round of meetings.
BBSM on Tuesday had accepted the State government’s ‘invitation’ to resolve the issue, however, it has refused to go back on its demand to stop grants to Diocesan-backed primary schools.
“The meeting was unproductive. There was no assurance from Parsekar. He has called for another meeting. We stand by our demands,” BBSM leader Subhash Velingkar told Herald after the meeting.
As BBSM has launched a massive campaign protesting BJP’s U-turn, Parsekar had called for the meeting in a bid to resolve the crisis. “I am optimistic of finding a solution,” Parsekar said.
“Parsekar explained to us what steps the State government has taken to promote education in the mother tongue. He placed facts and figures in front of us. Our demand that grants to English medium schools be withdrawn stands,” BBSM leader Pundalik Naik said.
BBSM said they will continue their agitation against the BJP-led coalition government till their demand is fulfilled. Earlier on Tuesday, the organization had asked the government to stop playing divide and rule games.
“The government’s move to give grants to English schools is not only against the Education Policy that promotes primary education in the mother tongue, but is also trying to create communal disharmony. We object to this,” Velingkar, also RSS Chief in Goa, said in a statement circulated to the media.
“Government has forced us to resort to agitations. For any consequences, the government will be held responsible. Therefore before we take an extreme step, we want that the government hold an urgent meeting with BBSM,” he said.
“BBSM is ready to provide all support if the State wants to take steps for the betterment and improvement of Marathi/Konkani schools and stops giving grants to English primary schools,” he added.
