Panaji: Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) on Saturday said that its opposition to Goa government's decision making English one of the Mediums of Instruction (MOI), apart
from Marathi and Konkani, in schools would not have any bearing on party's stand regarding coming Rajya Sabha polls.
NCP's Goa desk in-charge, Bharati Chawan, told reporters
here that the party's stand on Rajya Sabha candidature would
be decided after talking to the high command.
"It will be irrespective of Goa government's policy on
MOI. The coalition with Congress is based on larger issues,
not only on MOI," Chawan said.
Rajya Sabha election for the lone seat from Goa is
scheduled to be held in the last week of July.
NCP and Congress differ on the MOI. In May, Goa
government passed a resolution making English one of the
Mediums of Instruction (MOI), apart from Marathi and Konkani,
in schools. The decision sparked off wide protests.
NCP, which shares power with Congress in the state,
demanded that decision on MOI be taken only after consulting
academicians.
Chawan today said NCP leaders had met Chief Minister
Digambar Kamat three days ago and asked him to reverse the
decision.
Kamat was non-committal, she claimed. If the issue came
up again before the cabinet, the NCP ministers would vote
against the earlier decision, she said.
But as the NCP was not a majority partner in the
government, it was difficult for it to force the government to
reverse MOI decision, she added.
"Government should respect the public sentiment and
revoke the decision," Chawan said.
PTI
First Published: Saturday, July 02, 2011, 16:45