VISHNU WAGH ALLEGES THAT KAMAT AND CHURCHILL GAVE ENGLISH A BACKDOOR ENTRY

PONDA: Criticising Mr Churchill Alemao and Mr Digamber Kamat for giving "backdoor" entry to English at primary level in the state with its May 25 decision, Mr Vishnu Wagh, who holds various posts in the present administration, urged the 300-odd gathered people to come out in large numbers on June 6, to oppose the said decision in toto, "to save Goa and its culture through Konkani and Marathi."

Mr Wagh said, "With the decision, Mr Kamat is not only the enemy of Vishnu Wagh, but entire Goa. It is sad that Mr Kamat has succumbed to the pressure of Mr Churchill Alemao and a few other Salcete ministers and MLAs and has given a decision which is against the Goans. We will teach Mr Kamat a lesson through agitations," he said.

He further said that those ministers and MLAs who supported the English language should speak only in English, and if they used any other language then the people, under the banner of Antruz Mal Konkani - Marathi Bhasaha Mandal, would object to them at all levels.

Mr Wagh said that he is not against the English language, "but at primary level, education should be in mother tongue," and added, "I am going to resign from the Congress and all the positions and posts. So also all the awards presented to me, would be returned to the government." He however did not revealed the date as to when he would do this.

He further accused the local MLA and Home Minister, Mr Ravi Naik, for silently favouring English, claiming that it was a high command decision. He further criticised Mr Kamat saying that he would take any decision to stick to his chair.

Mr N Shivdas, a retired school teacher and the president of the Goa Konkani Academy, also criticised the Salcete ministers for favouring English. "It is a shame that Mr Kamat listened to Mr Alemao, Mr Atanasio Monseratte and Mr Ravi Naik, and gave his decision favouring English as medium of instruction," he said.

Mr Shivdas said that he begged Mr Kamat to maintain the status quo in the medium of instruction issue, but "Mr Kamat did not listen to me" he said.  A Konkani and Marathi writer, Mr Shivdas who was in the news for his controversial Konkani poem, also urged the gathered to support the June 6 Goa bandh, announced by the opposition.

Priol MLA, Mr Deepak Dhavlikar also spoke on the occasion and promised his support for the June 6 bandh. Others who spoke on the occasion were sarpanchas of opposition dominated constituencies and freedom fighters.