Margao: Forum for Rights of Children to Education (FORCE) on Wednesday challenged the Bharatiya Bhasha Suraksha Manch (BBSM) to demand that the state government should shut down all English medium primary schools in Goa, as proof of their love for the unique Goan culture and official state language, Konkani.
"As they always point out to preserving Bharatiya Sankruti, they should ensure that there are no English medium primary schools in Goa," said FORCE secretary Savio Lopes.
Stating that BBSM's main intent is only to suppress the economically weaker sections of society, such as the Bahujan Samaj, by preventing them the choice of medium of instruction. While pointing out that some private primary English medium schools were being managed by the BBSM members and some of their children were being educated in such schools, Lopes stated it will not be possible for them to shut down all the primary English medium schools in the state.
He alleged that the parents were being intimidated and harassed with cases being filed against them at the Bicholim police station, and summons issued to them to present themselves at the police station. Lopes also said that personnel of Goa police's intelligence unit had visited. "We will not be cowed down by the government's threat of putting all the parents in jail as we are fighting for the future of Goa. We are not afraid. We are prepared to take the government head on and shut down Goa. The government should take our warning seriously. FORCE should not be held responsible for any untoward incident that may arise during the movement," the FORCE secretary said.
Lopes informed that as part of their ongoing struggle, parents had gheraoed all the 40 MLAs and submitted their memorandum to them, seeking that the government fulfill the assurance given by chief minister Laxmikant Parsekar in the assembly that the bill referred to the select committee will be passed in the ongoing session.
Remarking that the parents had not received a single negative response from these legislators while submitting their memorandum, the FORCE secretary stated that they had no trust in the government. Lopes also said that they do not intend to meet the 11 MLAs who had given a written assurance after which FORCE had withdrawn the hunger strike.
Also present at the press conference were FORCE president Premanand Naik and treasurer Cynthia da Costa Fernandes.
TOI Goa News
"As they always point out to preserving Bharatiya Sankruti, they should ensure that there are no English medium primary schools in Goa," said FORCE secretary Savio Lopes.
Stating that BBSM's main intent is only to suppress the economically weaker sections of society, such as the Bahujan Samaj, by preventing them the choice of medium of instruction. While pointing out that some private primary English medium schools were being managed by the BBSM members and some of their children were being educated in such schools, Lopes stated it will not be possible for them to shut down all the primary English medium schools in the state.
He alleged that the parents were being intimidated and harassed with cases being filed against them at the Bicholim police station, and summons issued to them to present themselves at the police station. Lopes also said that personnel of Goa police's intelligence unit had visited. "We will not be cowed down by the government's threat of putting all the parents in jail as we are fighting for the future of Goa. We are not afraid. We are prepared to take the government head on and shut down Goa. The government should take our warning seriously. FORCE should not be held responsible for any untoward incident that may arise during the movement," the FORCE secretary said.
Lopes informed that as part of their ongoing struggle, parents had gheraoed all the 40 MLAs and submitted their memorandum to them, seeking that the government fulfill the assurance given by chief minister Laxmikant Parsekar in the assembly that the bill referred to the select committee will be passed in the ongoing session.
Remarking that the parents had not received a single negative response from these legislators while submitting their memorandum, the FORCE secretary stated that they had no trust in the government. Lopes also said that they do not intend to meet the 11 MLAs who had given a written assurance after which FORCE had withdrawn the hunger strike.
Also present at the press conference were FORCE president Premanand Naik and treasurer Cynthia da Costa Fernandes.
TOI Goa News
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