Team Herald
MARGAO: Fisheries Minister Avertano Furtado and Velim MLA Benjamin Silva condemned the statements by Environment minister Rajendra Arlekar on the medium of instruction (MoI) issue.
Speaking to media persons, the two Salcete MLAs issued a joint statement criticising Arlekar and said his views were unacceptable and it was ill advised for a minister to make such a statement.
The two MLAs in strong terms said it was unbecoming of Arlekar given his position as a cabinet minister and warned that such statements will affect the BJP’s association with MLAs supporting the government.
They pointed out that the environment minister has no role or business to decide on MoI and the Chief Minister is the only authority who can speak of the government decision on MoI.
They referred to the CM’s statement that the government would stick to giving the grants to English medium schools and that as per assurances given to them and those supporting the demand for English as the MoI, the government will stick to giving grants to English medium schools.
The two MLAs demanded that Arlekar restrain from making such comments as it will affect those supporting the demand for English and create unnecessary and wrong impressions.
Reiterating that it is only the CM who should speak on the government’s position, the two MLAs stressed they support the demands of parents who want English as MoI and have been actively pursuing this demand with the government.
