With Aam Aadmi Party leader and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal’s categorical announcement that grants that are presently being provided to primary schools (Diocesan Society of Education schools included) will not be withdrawn, AAP, Congress and BJP are now on the same page as far as the medium of instruction issue is concerned. Where does that leave the Bharatiya Bhasha Suraksha Manch? In an informal chat with editors, Kejriwal made it very clear that his party would not touch the existing policy, but a more comprehensive policy would emerge after completion of Goa
Dialogues, a process to elicit views of the people on various issues troubling the state. A hint on what direction this might
take was provided by AAP spokesperson Ashutosh who said
that providing quality education was more important than
MoI. Should AAP take up the issue of quality education then
it will be more aligned with the BJP. Chief Minister Laxmikant
Parsekar has been pursuing a policy
to upgrade the level of education
in vernacular schools in order to
stem the flow of students to English
primary schools.
With the Parsekar government
refusing to give in to the one-point
demand of withdrawal of grants to
DSE primary schools, a consensus
seems to be emerging in favour of
status quo. Although political parties
and some MLAs have spoken out in favour of the mother
tongue and regional languages, practically none would like to
upset status quo on MoI for fear of a backlash from parents of
all communities who want an English primary education for
their wards.
At the political level, how does this work for AAP? Would
it like to be seen as being on the same page as the BJP on the
MoI issue or would it prefer to use the issue as a differentiator.
It appears that AAP would prefer to use its anti-corruption
image as the key differentiator because on this issue it has an
envious reputation. Its commitment to rooting out corruption
stems from a clear understanding that the 67 seats won in
Delhi was the outcome of the strong stand taken against corruption
during its 49-day rule. Also, after a series of meetings
with people, AAP is veering towards the realisation that MoI is
not as important an issue as quality of education, jobs for the
youth and corruption.
So where does that leave the BBSM, which is the only organisation
fighting against the tide? It has threatened to take on
the BJP in key constituencies. The BBSM draws its strength
from the RSS which, in Goa is at loggerheads with the government.
It has succeeded in drawing large crowds for its meetings
and though this has rattled the government, Parsekar has
stood firm like a rock. BBSM leaders are keen on damaging the
BJP in at least one or two constituencies, but to do that they
have to either field candidates or support independents who
share their ideology. Although some leaders have hinted at a
wholehearted plunge into electoral politics, the organization
will take a final decision on October 2. In the meanwhile it has
launched a ‘shouting’ campaign against the government.
With AAP giving a clear indication of which way it proposes
to go on the MoI issue and with Kejriwal making a point to visit
the Archbishop, the BBSM is politically isolated. Time alone
will tell if its bite is as potent as its bark.
