Goa Bandh largely successful, 18 June a deadline
GOANEWS DESK, PANAJI | 06 June 2011 20:24 IST
Women blocked road in Canacona
The Goa Bandh announced by the Bharati Bhasha Suraksha Manch on the issue of Medium of Instruction in primary education was largely successful, except in the villages of Salcete.
The BBSM has now served a deadline of 18 June – Goa Revolution Day – to the government to change its stand of giving grants to English medium primary schools.
Chief minister Digambar Kamat, while responding to the Bandh, has said he would send a detailed report to the party high command.
Most of the markets all over Goa remained closed. In few places, the BBSM activists as well as BJP activists forced the shopkeepers to pull down shutters.
Bus transport was largely closed while roads were also blocked in several parts of Goa, from Pernem to Canacona.
The national highway was however cleared by the police by afternoon. But it affected attendance even in the government offices.
Most of the private buses were off the road. Through KTC buses were plying, there were hardly any commuters.
Incidents of stone pelting on buses were reported in some places like Margao, Bicholim etc. some activists were arrested in Bicholim, Mapusa and Vasco.
Barring few private schools, most of the schools were open but had to shut down as very few students came to school. Today was the first day of schools.
Some English-supporting parents had brought their children to the schools, but had take them back as school authorities were not ready to keep it open, fearing children’s safety.
Goa overall witnessed a deserted look in the markets as well as on the roads, though most of the Bandh was peaceful.
BBSM convenor Shashikala Kakodkar has now demanded resignations of three ministers – Sudin Dhawalikar, Babu Azgaonkar and Nilkanth Halarnkar, who claim to have been opposing the government’s decision.
She has also appealed to speaker Pratapsing Rane, ministers Ravi Naik and Vishwajeet Rane as well as other ruling MLAs to make their stand on the issue public.
I cant understand why are people making so much fuss about the language because the people who brought this issue should realize that this fight is not going to lead them anywhere, this is just going to spoil the future of the children and the next generation to come.
I do respect my language (Konkani ) and support for it, but also understand that english is also important because if our children want to go out for studies or work the language english is very important that time our mother tongue or national language does not play a role
I just want to ask one question to the people who are fighting about this issue : why did they send their children to english medium or abroad for futher studies (in english)
I think this is something all of my goan brothers and sisters need to think...and end this fight on language keeping in mind the future of their children
Shashikala & Velginkar must have promised them free rations or a sack of rice.
If not , these people suffer from mass euphoria.
It seems like these people have only ever lived in a village Travel to a town nearby, must be the equivalent of travelling abroad for them.
we want in english, people who saport are illetate ull can see the pic who protest. were is the freedom?
dear readers
hope so all the people aggitating against the implementation of english as a medium of instruction are literate, knowing that the future of therir children is sold to the politicians , who themselves educate their children in english medium and far off colleages.
The above picture says it all that these people are some illeterate bunch of house wifes who have finished cooking at home gossiped with neighbours of getting some monetry benifit by sitting on the road not knowing for what they are shouting.Most of these women i am sure are not proper Goans.
Dont try to make Goa another UP or Bihar.We Goans hold a upper hand just because we can speak well and represent our self in the outside world.
Dear Mr. Chief Minister please dont get effected by some bunch of useless people shouting on the road.there is a saying barking Dog dont bite.I am happy that you support English and you want our children to dream big.
All the best to you
Terence sequeira, Aldona,GOA