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GOING FOR THE KILL
BBSM
* Terms the appointment of the committee a ‘political stunt’ prior to the 2017 assembly elections
* It says the govt move is a delay tactic and that it would not impact their agitation in any way
FORCE
* Rejects govt move to appoint committee. Will chalk out plans to take their agitation forward
* Will neither contest nor support any candidate. But oppose those who go against their demand
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DSE questions
govt decision
Diocesan Society of Education (DSE) has questioned the State Government’s move to appoint the academic authority on Medium of Instruction (MoI), even as an entire exercise was earlier carried out by the Manohar Parrikar-led State Government by appointing a committee of educationists.
>> See pg 3
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Unperturbed by the State Government’s move to appoint a 17-member committee to advise the government to arrive at an appropriate decision on medium of instruction, the Bharatiya Bhasha Suraksha Manch (BBSM) and Forum for Rights of Childrens’ Education (FORCE) on Wednesday, decided to intensify their agitation, terming the constitution of the committee as ‘delay tactic’.
BBSM has already swung into second phase of their agitation by holding black flag demonstrations at venues of government programmes with FORCE expected to announce its course of action shortly. While BBSM says it will announce a political option on October 2, FORCE has decided not to elect to power those who are not in support of their demand.
Terming the appointment of the committee a ‘political stunt’ prior to the 2017 assembly elections, BBSM leader Subhash Velingkar said, “It is an exercise the government is conducting. Let them carry out the study. We have decided to go ahead with our agitation. The appointment of the committee is merely a delay tactic by the government and it will not impact our agitation in any way.”
Meanwhile, FORCE held a meeting of parents in Panaji to reiterate their demand to convert the cabinet note on MoI into a bill. It has however rejected the State Government’s move to appoint the committee.
Speaking to media persons after the meeting, FORCE leader Savio Lopes said, “We outrightly reject the committee appointed by the State Government. We will plan a course of action on how to convey this to the State Government and how to take the agitation forward.”
“We are going all out for the election. We are neither contesting nor supporting any candidates. But those who are against our demand, we will not let them win the election. Our demand still remains there. We will put enough of pressure on the government to see that the bill is approved in the monsoon assembly session. But with the indications that are coming in like appointing of the committee, it shows that the government is immature. They don’t know how to handle the affairs of the State,” said Lopes.
