Varying opinions within BJP on medium of instruction issue, says Goa CM Laxmikant Parsekar

Goa Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar on Saturday refused to spell out BJP's stand on the medium of instruction issue, saying that the decision in this regard would be taken by the select committee of the Assembly. BJP MLAs today met here to discuss the medium of instruction bill which is expected to be tabled during the Assembly session beginning from January 11. 

Parsekar told reporters after the meeting that the party legislators expressed varying views. "There are no two views. There are several views. We will put them before the select committee which will take the final call on the bill," he said. 

Parsekar, who himself heads the committee, further said the decision would be taken before January 11, refusing to specify whether the bill would be tabled in the house. "As far as my personal view is concerned, it (the bill) should continue in the current form but there are some people who are objecting to it," he said, referring to opposition by the organisations like Bharatiya Bhasha Suraksha Manch.

As per the current policy, the medium of instruction in government schools is the regional language (Konkani or Marathi), but English-medium school too get government grants. BBSM has demanded that the grants to English-medium schools be discontinued.