Herald: FORCE fights for English as a choice in MoI and you for Konkani/Marathi. But suddenly this whole battle is more like Savio Lopes versus Bhembre/Arvind Bhatikar?
Savio Lopes: BBSM’s Uday Bhembre and Arvind Bhatikar want to mislead the people of Goa. They have concocted some new theory of me being some guy from the
ship, unaware of Goa’s reality, being a man with a polytechnic background.
I am a general manager for my company in Goa and I am from a commerce
background. I am just leading a flock of parents who united in large numbers
to give their kids a choice to study in English at primary level and that’s a
demand I took to the government, to the court, to the Manohar Parrikar held meeting of stakeholder’s, my demand at my fast and till date. To make it a bill fro
m the cabinet decision of July 01, 2014. Beyond that there is no fight, no versus, no mudslinging.
Herald: What if the government is unwilling to make it a bill or delays to make it a bill?
Lopes: The government assured and that’s when I called off my fast. It should meet its demand. I won’t reveal our strategy but any given time, I have the backing of all these parents across Goa and we have a strategy and decision that’s always taken democratically. We will have a next course of action in case the government doesn’t meet our demand in the January Assembly session.
Herald: This show of strength in Margao at Lohia Maidan with 5,000 parents and in the heart of the city, does it mean something for 2017 Assembly polls?
Lopes: These parents voted for this government hoping the change will bring a solution. This show of strength is for a cause of their kids and not on basis of politics or religion or community. This show of strength is a reminder for the government that we’re waiting for the bill that allows grants for those already receiving grants for English as a medium of Instruction at primary level. Savior lopes represents FORCE and has no political allegiance and has no political aspirations. We speak of education and nothing else.
Herald: Will this BBSM – FORCE battle ever come to an end? Will you iron out your issues at a stakeholders meeting?
Lopes: I am willing to debate and talk to Bhatikar and Bhembre on any given day. I want them to clear the air on this so called UNESCO report on mother tongue when UNESCO has no study done in Goa. That’s why I had fewer speakers at our December 17 meeting at Lohia Maidan and put out seats on the dais for these so called intellects. They need to stop talking on the lines of religion, politics, communities, caste and discuss only education and how English is India’s official medium of Instruction and lets tae the debate from there. The ball is in their court.
