FORCE dares Bhembre, Bhatikar for debate at Dec 17 meet

Lopes threatens to quit if duo proves demand not in interest of children and Goa, demands discussion on draft Bill before introducing in ensuing Assembly session

THE GOAN NETWORK | DECEMBER 15, 2015, 12:00 AM IST

Photo Credits: Force

Photo caption

FORCE members addressing the media on the public meeting scheduled to be held at the Lohia Maidan on December 17. Santosh Mirajkar

Grants to English medium schools

MARGAO

The Forum for Rights of Children’s Education (FORCE) has dared the two protagonists of education in regional languages, Uday Bhembre and Arvind Bhatikar, to join a debate at the Lohia Maidan, Margao, on December 17 evening, with FORCE Secretary Savio Lopes threatening to quit if the duo proves that the demand raised by FORCE is not in the interest of the children and Goa.

FORCE also demanded that the government discuss with them the draft Bill on allowing government grants to English medium schools before the same is introduced in the coming session of the Goa Legislative next month.

Addressing the media, FORCE Secretary Savio Lopes said the organization had been repeatedly inviting both Bhembre and Bhatikar to join a debate on the issue of grants to English medium schools, but in vain. Instead, the duo had been trying to give a religious and communal colour to divert the issue. “FORCE has called a meeting at the Lohia Maidan on December 17, at 4 pm, wherein we would like to invite both Bhembre and Bhatikar to join the debate on the issue. The duo had been talking everything else except on the merits and de-merits of the issue. Let the people of Goa know who is right and wrong. I will quit on the issue if both Bhembre and Bhatikar prove that the demand for grants for English medium schools is not in the interest of our children and Goa," he said, adding 'it appears that both Bhembre and Bhatikar have nothing to debate on the issue since they have not accepted out invitation since the last four years'.

Replying to a question, Lopes said FORCE hopes that the government sticks to its promises made to the thousands of parents that the amended Bill will be introduced in the coming session of the Assembly. “Our only demand before the government is to translate the Cabinet decision into an Act. The Bill introduced last time round was contrary to the Cabinet decision," he said, while making it categorically clear that FORCE has no communal agenda, while accusing the rival group for trying to communalise the issue.

He said that FORCE has not met the government so far ahead of the ensuing session of the Assembly, but felt that the government should show them the draft Bill before the same is brought before the Assembly.

Replying to another question, Lopes hoped that the MLAs who came to express their solidarity with the parents at the Azad Maidan, Panaji when he had gone on an indefinite fast, will stick to their promise of getting the government bring in the Bill in the ensuing Assembly session.

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