NO CONNECTION BETWEEN MOI AND RS ELECTIONS: NCP

PANJIM: 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