SPEAKING IN DIFFERENT TONGUES
- After it was introduced in the House on August 19 last year, the MoI bill was later referred to the 8-member select committee on August 21 due to certain discrepancies.
- CM Laxmikant Parsekar had assured during the last monsoon session that the MoI issue will be resolved in the next session after introducing the bill with minor corrections recommended by the standing committee.
- Parsekar now says if the committee submits its report, the bill will be tabled during the coming winter session.
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PANAJI
A cloud of uncertainty looms over the Medium of Instruction (MoI) Bill, with Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar declining to give a clear assurance on whether it will come up in the winter session of the State Legislative Assembly beginning January 11.
Speaking to media persons, Parsekar said, “The Bill has been sent to the select committee. If the committee submits its report, then it will come up in this session itself.”
The amendment bill was presented in the House on August 19 last year, while it was referred to the eight-member select committee a few days later on August 21.
When asked about BJP’s coalition partner, Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party's (MGP) demand that grants should be extended to all English medium primary schools in the State, he replied, “I have made my stand clear time and again. I do not want to make any alterations to what is going on presently.”
Stressing that primary education should be in mother tongue, he stated, “It is important that primary education should be in mother tongue. But those schools which have been given grants earlier should continue.”
The uncertainty comes against the backdrop where the Chief Minister had assured during the monsoon session that the MoI issue will be resolved in the next session after introducing the bill with minor corrections recommended by the standing committee.
Moreover, it may be recalled that a group of BJP MLAs had to sign and give a written assurance that the issue would be resolved in the coming session of the assembly. The written assurance came after an agitation led by the Forum for Rights of Children Education (FORCE) which led to blocking of the National Highways across the state, which was followed by a hunger strike in the state's capital city.
Meanwhile, the five-day winter session of the State Legislative Assembly will commence on January 11 with the Governor’s address and the Speaker’s election on the second day.
Speaking to the media after the State Legislative Assembly’s Business Advisory Committee meeting on Wednesday, Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar said, “The election for the post of the Speaker will be held on the second day of the session on January 12, while that of the Deputy Speaker will be held on January 14.”
After the Governor’s address on the first day, Deputy Speaker Anant Shet is likely to resign from the post as his name was cleared by the core committee of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for the post of Speaker.
“Before filing the nomination papers, Shet will have to resign,” said Parsekar.
The State Legislative Assembly has received nearly 749 LAQs, of which 179 are starred LAQs. Additionally, nearly five government bills, most of which are amendments to the existing acts, will be tabled during the session.
