From Our Special Correspondent
Pics by Surendra Naik / Rajtilak Naik
Daijiworld Media Network - Panaji

Panaji, Jun 6: Four buses were stoned and roads were paralysed since morning as protestors descended on roads for Goa bandh, agitating against state government’s policy to include English as Medium of Instruction (MOI) in the primary schools.
 
Bharatiya Bhasha Suraksha Manch (BBSM) has given a call for Goa bandh today which is supported by political parties including Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party (MGP) and Shiv Sena. The strike call is backed by 67 institutions spread across the state.

The life in the state remained paralysed, since morning, as no buses could ply on the inter-city routes. Though a few buses were seen on the city route, they had limited passengers.
 
Although Monday was the first day of the current academic year, majority of the schools remained closed. Those schools, which managed to hold classes, had majority of benches empty. In many schools, the teachers could not reach on time.
 
Adding to the woes, the rains started hitting the coastal state with its full fury. The monsoon has set in since last two days here.
 
State-government run Kadamba Transport Corporation Limited (KTCL) managed to ply a few buses on the inter-city route under police protection. But largely, they also ran half-empty.
 
Police sources stated that two KTCL buses were stoned at Margao and Bicholim towns. Two other buses carrying school students were also attacked by the crowd. Sources stated that these buses are sponsored under Indira Bal Rath Yojna.
 
“The students were made to get down and the buses were smashed,” an eye witness said. The students were later dropped to their houses by private vehicles by the agitators themselves.
 
In Panaji, the parents were seen standing near the school to ensure that the agitators don’t stop the schools forcibly. Being the first day, the school managements had decided to leave the students after the first two hours.
 
Goa government in its recent decision has made English as MOI, which has irked many parents, academicians and experts. The fears are raised that giving grants to English medium schools, will spell doom for schools in Indian languages.