Local Goa News

Wednesday, June 22, 2016

No change in govt stance: D’Souza

PANAJI: Stating that the commencement of talks between the government and the Bharatiya Bhasha Suraksha Manch (BBSM) leaders is a welcome occurrence, Deputy Chief Minister Francis D’Souza said that these leaders should however understand the genuine difficulties faced by the government in accepting the BBSM demand and withdrawing its grants to the 100-odd English primary schools.
Speaking to ‘The Navhind Times’, the Deputy Chief Minister said that the BBSM leaders should also comprehend that the government just cannot withdraw its grants to an institution overnight as there could be administrative and legal implications to it.
“They should further know that the government is not functioning for one community or one group, but the entire state, as also take into consideration the needs and requirements of every Goan, even though all Goans may have not voted for the political party to which the government belongs,” he observed, pointing out that the Bharatiya Janata Party, in its manifesto for the 2012 state assembly election had not taken a hardliner stand on the MOI issue, and clearly stated that the party, if voted to power would take a related decision only after consulting all the stakeholders.
Speaking further, D’Souza recalled that the BBSM leaders had welcomed the decision of the then chief minister and education minister Manohar Parrikar, when he had come out with the State MOI Policy in 2014, which laid clear guidelines for funding primary level schools. “If they had accepted and welcomed this policy when it was announced, then why objection to it now,” he questioned.
The deputy Chief Minister also hoped that the ongoing talks between the government and the BBSM leaders would proceed in the positive direction, and a mutually acceptable solution would come out. “At least I am optimistic about it,” he noted, maintaining that “Well begun is half done.”

NT Network Goa News

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