BBSM sets new deadline before Goa govt over MOI issue

Panaji (Goa): Claiming that Goa bandh received a 100 per cent response, Bharatiya Bhasha Suraksha Manch (BBSM) today set a new deadline before the state government to revert its decision on Medium of Instruction (MOI). BBSM President Shashikala Kakodkar said that Goa bandh was a success, as people voluntarily closed their shops and preferred to remain at their homes supporting the cause. "The success of bandh should send clear signal for Kamat-led government that people are against his policy," she said. Kakodkar said that the Digambar Kamat-led government will have to withdraw its decision recognising English as MOI."We are giving him deadline till June 18,’ she said. June 18 is commemorated as a revolution day in Goa in memory of the call given by T B Cunha to revolt against Portuguese-led regime during pre-liberation era.

Shashikala Kakodkar claimed that the people from Kamat’s constituency also participated in the strike in large number. "There was nearly 100 per cent response in Margao constituency. This goes to prove that the people don’t stay by the verdict of their leader," Kakodkar said. She said that the three ministers ‘Manohar Asgaonkar, Nilkant Halarnkar and Sudin Dhavalikar, who had voiced their concern for Indian languages, should come ahead and resign from the state cabinet by June 18, to protest against the government decision. BBSM has also demanded that ministers ‘ Vishwajit Rane and Ravi Naik, and speaker of legislative assembly Pratapsingh Rane should clarify their stand on the issue. The former chief minister said that BBSM will announce its future course of action only after the deadline got over. BBSM has been agitating against Goa government’s decision to recognize English as MOI. The manch has feared that such a move will affect primary schools in Konkani and Marathi languages.

Source: IBN Live