Photo caption.
Adv Uday Bhembre and other BBSM leaders at the day-long dharna at the old Collectorate building on Saturday. Santosh Mirajkar
MARGAO
The Bharatiya Bhasha Suraksha Manch (BBSM) on Saturday warned that it is ready for a show of strength across the State if the government does not stop grants to primary schools in English medium from the coming academic year.
BBSM leader Adv Uday Bhembre also pooh-phooed the call given by FORCE secretary Savio Lopes for an open debate on the issue, saying some people do not understand the meaning of education and dhirios.
Bhembre, who participated in the day-long dharna organised by BBSM at the Old Collectorate building, Margao to commence the start of the second phase of agitation against grants to English medium primary schools, said the government should not underestimate the strength of the BBSM in organising the people against the government decision. “This ongoing agitation will be taken to its logical conclusion. If the government wants us to show our strength, we are ready for that across the State," he said.
Bhembre said that the government on one hand concedes that primary education ought to be in one’s mother tongue and contradicts its own stand by giving grants to English medium schools and lamented that the government has also not honoured its commitment to provide better facilities and financial assistance for the government primary schools.
He regretted that the prominent members of the BJP, including former Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar had supported the BBSM movement when in the opposition, but has not stopped giving grants to English medium primary schools till date. He clarified that the BBSM had never sought support from the BJP or any other party for its movements, but leaders such as Parrikar and MGP leader Sudin Dhavalikar had voluntarily extended their support to the agitation. “The BJP leaders supported our movement and even wore black dresses along with us. We were all waiting that the new government will fulfill our demand, but they went back on their promises," he said.
Clarifying that BBSM had never stopped the agitation during the last four years, Bhembre said the BBSM waited for the government to honour its promises made to the people of Goa, but lamented that the government has not shown any signs that it will fulfill the promises.
Virtually rejecting the call given by FORCE secretary Savio Lopes for a debate on the issue, Bhembre said there’s no need for a debate at the Lohia Maidan or Azad Maidan when UNESCO and other educational bodies have come clear that primary education ought to be in the child’s mother tongue.
