The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) does not accept that there is a difference of opinion between them and the Bharatiya Bhasha Suraksha Manch (BBSM). The party claims that the decision to continue giving grants to English medium primary schools was the best possible solution to the MoI. SHWETA KAMAT meets Rajya Sabha MP Narendra Sawaikar for his views on the issue.
Herald: Is the ongoing fight on the controversial medium of Instruction (MoI) issue between the BJP and the RSS-cum-BBSM, or it is just the BBSM?
Narendra Sawaikar: I would say that there is absolutely no fight between any fronts. It is just organizational opinion. And if there is a fight, as said by you, then I find it meaningless. BJP during the 2012 Assembly election campaign, in its manifesto, had assured to come out with an amicable solution on the MoI issue. Post election we came with a comprehensive policy with a best possible solution.
Herald: But your amicable solution has not been accepted by BBSM, the Marathi-Konkani protagonists who had led the protest against the then Congress government’s MoI policy. BBSM feels betrayed by BJP, who used them for political power in 2012.
Sawaikar: If they feel we have betrayed them then they are thinking wrongly. We have never betrayed or backstabbed anyone. Our policy is widely accepted by a cross section of the people. We have now even announced Rs 400 per student studying in primary schools with Marathi or Konkani as the MoI. As far as coming to power is concerned, BJP is a political party and went to the people with different issues during the 2012 polls and MoI was one of them. We never went to the people only with the issue of MoI. See, we have taken the decision, some may appreciate it and some may not like it.
Herald: So, is the party as well as the government firm on its decision to continue grants to English medium schools?
Sawaikar: Yes, very much. It is a policy decision by the government and we cannot backtrack on it. There are thousands of students studying in those 127 Diocesan schools, we cannot play with their future for our political reasons. We are confident, that this decision will be widely accepted.
Herald: BBSM in Goa is led by RSS chief Subhash Velingkar, who is in direct altercation with the government on the issue. Don’t you think this could lead to a major rift between BJP and RSS ahead of the 2017 elections?
Sawaikar: I don’t think so. Not even in a dream one should think about any crisis between BJP and RSS. RSS is governed by its central body and not a local body. No MoI issue can create any divide within the two organizations. BJP and RSS were together, are together and will continue to be intact. As far as the 2017 polls are concerned, the party will go to people with its good governance and development policies. We have given a stable and progressive government to the people of Goa and it would be appreciated.
