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Panaji: Goa Govt Gears Up to Face Bandh on June 6
- Sat, Jun 04 2011 11:35:42 AM
Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network - Panaji
Panaji, Jun 4: With the supporters of Konkani and Marathi languages calling for Goa bandh on June 6, Goa government on Friday held a high level meeting of all its departments to ensure that law and order prevails in the state during the protest.
Chief Minister Digambar Kamat chaired the meeting at state secretariat which was attended by all the concerned officers. The meeting decided that abundant precautions should be taken to ensure that agitators don’t disturb the peace in the state.
“All precautions would be taken. But if someone wants to support bandh call voluntarily than no one can stop him,” Kamat told reporters after the meeting. He stated that the state government has geared up to counter any eventuality arising during the protest.
Bharatiya Bhasha Suraksha Manch (BBSM) has called for a day long bandh on June 6, when new academic year begins, to protest against state government’s decision to give MOI status to English language.
State Home Minister Ravi Naik, who was present for the meeting, said that all the departments have been asked to mobilise their resources to ensure that people are not faced inconvenience.
He stated that police would be patrolling the streets from June 5 night onwards and if necessary, preventive arrests, would be executed. “Police have been asked to take into custody anyone, who is found to be disturbing the peace or blocking the road,” said Naik.
In order to ensure that the school-going students are not held on the road, the police department has been asked to give special cover to these buses.
Director of Education Celsa Pinto said that the department will not postpone the beginning of academic year. “The academic year will start on June 6 as announced earlier,” she said.
Both the district collectors have been asked to call for meeting of their sub-ordinates along with respective police station incharges to ensure that their district remains trouble-free.
Naik said that the police would be posted at all the sensitive points. “We request the agitators not to take the law in hand. Everyone has a right to protest democratically but it does not mean that they should destroy public properties or disturb other people,” the Home Minister said.