Won't stop grants to English medium schools in Goa: BJP

BJP MP Narendra Sawaikar said that the party respected RSS' view on medium of instruction but would continue to hold its own position

Drawing battle lines with the Bharatiya Bhasha Suraksha Manch (BBSM) over the issue of medium of instruction (MoI), the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Goa on Monday reiterated its stand that it would not withdraw grants given to the English-medium schools in the state.

"BJP is a political party and we believe in taking all people along. We respect the decision of RSS (Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh) to support mother tongue, but our stand on MoI will continue to be the same," BJP MP Narendra Sawaikar told reporters here on Monday.

Sawaikar's statement comes a day after RSS 'Goa Prant' held a mega convention appealing people to vote against BJP, and RSS' newly-appointed Goa Vibhag Sanghchalak Laxman Behre's demanded that BJP should withdraw grants to English-medium schools.

The Lok Sabha MP clarified that the party has utmost respect for RSS. "RSS is one of the rewarded and respectable organisation, not only in India but across the world," he said.

When asked about the call given by the Subhash Velingkar-led 'RSS Goa Prant' not to vote for BJP in the upcoming Assembly polls, Sawaikar said such things will have no impact on the party's prospects.

"BJP will win election because of its work. Our work will speak and we are confident of winning 2017 election," he said.

BBSM has been vociferously opposing grants to English medium schools in Goa and led agitations against the Laxmikant Parsekar government demanding that primacy be given to Marathi and Konkani languages as the MoI in schools.