PANAJI
The State Unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party has asked its workers to refrain from sharing any platform which criticises the Party and its members on the Medium of Instruction issue while stating that it will go ahead with the decision on MoI.
Addressing party workers, Defence Minister, Manohar Parrikar said, “The solution which BJP has given on this question is the best. If any other party was there, there would have been chaos and fights.”
While stating that people envious of BJP will criticise the party, Parrikar said, “Party workers should do not go to a platform where it is being criticised and remarks like "we will teach a lesson to the party" are made. Initially some of our members also participated. We have no problem if the issue is apolitical. But if it is being politicised, they should not encourage it.”
Speaking on the issue, Chief Minister, Laxmikant Parsekar said the government has taken a correct stand on MoI and it will go ahead with the decision.
“The State government had taken a Cabinet decision on MoI and it was decided to continue grants to the 135 English-medium primary schools which were being given grants since 2011”, said Parsekar.
Stating that the Government’s stand is very clear, he said, “We are giving all necessary assistance to boost the Marathi/Konkani medium primary schools. Additionally, we have also said that if any new schools want grant-in-aid, then the MoI should be mother tongue.”
“It is our children who are studying in these schools. Nobody should take an extreme stand to stop the grants to these schools. Presently, two groups have been formed on this issue -- one which demands discontinuing of grants and the other which says that grants should be continued. The stand which the government has taken is correct and we will go ahead with it”, he said.
“Even if any group tries to make it sensitive, our workers should not fall prey to it”, said Parsekar.
