PANJIM: Apprehending a backlash from the growing support to the pro-Marathi and Konkani protagonists over the medium of instruction (MoI) issue, the State government has withdrawn permission given to Bharatiya Bhasha Surakhsa Manch (BBSM) to hold a public meeting at Ravindra Bhavan in Sanquelim, on April 30.
Notwithstanding the revocation, BBSM has decided to go ahead with their scheduled programme, and the meeting will now be held on the open ground near the Ravindra Bhavan. BBSM, that has launched a State-wide protest against the BJP-led government’s decision to give grants to 127 English medium primary schools, held its first public meeting at Mandrem on April 24.
The government denied the permission almost a month after the auditorium was booked for the purpose with an advance payment of Rs 10,000.
“The office (Ravindra Bhavan, Sanquelim) intends to organise the programme ‘Yaa Anganant Majhya’ on April 30 and hence this office is not in a position to spare the premises requested by you (BBSM) as per the clause 6 of the declaration signed by you while booking on March 28,” Ravindra Bhavan member secretary Shripad Arlekar said in a letter to BBSM local member Dayanand Naik.
Speaking on the development BBSM member Pundalik Naik called the move as politically motivated as the government has found itself on the back foot following huge response received at Sunday’s public meeting in the chief minister’s constituency, Mandrem.
“We were prepared in advance for all such tactics that the government would adopt to halt the process,” Naik said.
