PANAJI
Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar taunted the Goa Suraksha Manch and the Congress for compromising on principles even as the Congress in response questioned his principles in government formation.
Speaking during the discussion on demands for grants to the education department and connected demands, Parrikar brought up the issue of the Medium of Instructions but chose to speak about how the Goa Suraksha Manch and the Congress held talks to finalise a joint candidate against him in the upcoming Assembly by-election.
While not naming anybody or party, Parrikar said that those who spoke of principles that only and Marathi and Konkani schools should be given grants were discussing with those who wanted all schools to be given grants to choose a ‘compromise candidate against me', Parrikar said.
"My father used to always say: Your principles have to be fixed. You don't change your principles. At a certain event where I was speaking to students, one student asked me whether I believe in the policy of honesty. I replied: ‘I don't believe in honesty.' After an awkward silence, I said: ‘Honesty can be best principle not policy.' Policies can change but principles cannot," Parrikar said.
"It is their principle to shut all schools and give grants to only those that are teaching in Konkani and Marathi... what kind of principle to join hands with those whose policy is to give grants to everybody," Parrikar asked.
"Many people ask me why Bhagat Singh did not apologise to the British and return to life and continue with freedom fighting activities. If he were to do that he would have compromised on principles and for the sake of principles he was hanged," Parrikar said. However Leader of Opposition Chandrakant Kavlekar didn't take things lying down.
"In the same way you formed your government. We all know how you formed your government. There were real principles there. If you want to make a political speech, we also can respond to it," Kavlekar said taunting Parrikar on joining hands with forces that campaigned against him in the run up to the Assembly elections earlier this year.
Nonetheless, Parrikar however assured that the government's policy decision to continue with grants to Diocesan Schools which have changed their medium of instruction to English was ‘frozen' and that there would be no change in that policy.
