Herald: MGP’s stand on MOI policy to support local languages and demand to withdraw grants to English medium primary schools has surprised the people of Goa. What are your views?
Lavoo: MOI Issue is the creation of political leaders. Please recall the 2012 election. Congress gave grants to English Medium primary schools. All MGP-BJP leaders had assured to revoke the Congress decision, but after coming to power, BJP made a U-turn. So we have taken a decision now to stand behind local languages. MGP is openly supporting local languages to preserve it and also expect the same from the BJP.
Herald: How do you think the issue can be sorted?
Lavoo: There is no issue at all. It is created by politicians in Goa with selfish motives. Besides, if the government applies its mind and stops so many nursery schools coming up, the issue will no more exist. Government should promote primary education in Konkani or Marathi as it was earlier.
Herald: You are a member of a select committee on the MOI issue. So far, how many meetings and what decision and discussions have been held?
Lavoo: There have been around six meetings. Around six all party MLAs are members of the select committee. Despite the meetings however, no concrete discussions have taken place. I am there to project our party’s views. MGP policy is to protect the interest of the people and party policies on language issues.
Herald: Do you think that there is a divide over various religious communities over the MOI issue?
Lavoo: There is no such divide. In 1987, the people of Goa caused an agitation over the language issue and Konkani was also given official status along with Marathi. If we don’t want these languages, why were all these agitations held?
Herald: Nowadays, some people think if MOI is not in English, their children will be left behind in this competitive world. Your views?
Lavoo: It is their attitude and thinking. We too learn in Marathi, Konkani and then learn English and even speak English now. Even though we earn our bread and butter, we should protect our local languages to safeguard culture.
Herald: There are several issues plaguing the BJP-MGP alliance like the Sopo Issue in Ponda which has not been solved since the past two years.
Lavoo: I think the government is not taking MLAs into confidence. The MLAs represent people and so whatever MLAs decide, should be taken into consideration to solve peoples’ problems. But the government is not taking me into consideration. Further, some of the ruling council members who act as defacto MLAs are not bothered to solve the issues. Hence, the sopo issue has remained unsolved for two years.
Herald: With all the controversies around, do you think the alliance would take place?
Lavoo: Our minister Sudin Dhavalikar has already made a statement on the issue and hence it won’t be right for me to say anything on the issue for now.
