PANJIM: Hours after people blocked roads across the state demanding the immediate implementation of the medium of instruction (MoI) policy, Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar categorically stated that parents of students from Diocesan schools were instigated to protest, by being misguided and creating a fear that grants to English medium primary schools would be discontinued.
“Some people are having terror mindset, it’s a serious issue,” Parsekar said. “I believe that these agitators should be forgiven. They are instigated and misguided by few elements,” he told the state legislative assembly.
Urging his legislative colleagues not to politicize the language issue, Parsekar said the government would not act against the agitating crowd and reiterated that grants to English medium primary schools will continue as per the cabinet decision.
However, speaking during the debate, PWD Minister and MGP leader Ramakrishna (Sudin) Dhavalikar demanded a rollback of the government decision to give grants to 134 English medium primary schools,
The chief minister appealed and requested Goans not to disturb the communal harmony of the state, which is the strength of the state. “People in Goa stay in unity and harmony and any unwanted element should not try to disturb it. People’s representative should not play with the sentiments of the people,” he commented.
The assembly on Friday discussed the road blockade for two and a half hours after BJP legislator Vishnu Wagh raised it. The house remained divided on the incident, with the ruling MLAs seeking stern action against institutions that participated in the agitation and also an inquiry into who instigated the agitators. The opposition supported the agitators and accused the government for delay in implementing the policy.
“I had received calls last night from some parents and also from the police informing about the likely incident. Parents told me that their schools had asked them to block the road. All Diocesan schools had called parents for morning prayers and were asked to block the road,” Parsekar, also the education minister said.
“One Ashly D’Souza this morning called me and informed that they have blocked the road at Verna. When I questioned why have the roads been blocked, he said that one father (priest) told them to block the road informing that government will discontinue grants to English primary schools,” he added.
The chief minister said that FORCE Secretary Savio Lopes, who is on an indefinite hunger strike, met him before the commencement of the monsoon session, wherein he was assured that the bill would be introduced in the next assembly session. “I told him that the bill cannot be passed hurriedly in this session and hence assured to resolve the issue in the coming winter session, but he was not convinced with it,” he said.
