Congress senior leader and South Goa MP Francisco Sardinha
Gomantak Times
Congress senior leader and South Goa MP Francisco Sardinha questioned the re-opening of schools in the state and inquired the Goa government's wisdom vis a vis resumption of the schools, when the academic year is scheduled to come to a close in a month and a half.
Addressing a press conference in Margao, Sardinha said, "I urge the Goa government to shut down schools. Just a month and a half is left, what is the urgency."
"In June, schools can start as usual. Covid may have come down now, but the parents are still worried about their children getting infected," Sardinha said, adding that schools should be resumed after all minor students are vaccinated.
Schools in Goa welcomed nearly 2.7 lakh students of primary and junior classes on Monday after prolonged closure in view of the Covid-19 pandemic.
State Education Director Bhushan Savaikar said that management have been asked to abide by the Standard Operating Procedure (SOPs) and a large number of schools reported a good percentage of attendance.
On Sunday, Goa reported 40 new COVID-19 cases and three fatalities, raising the infection tally in the state to 2,44,713 and the death toll to 3,792, as per official figures.
Sardinha also took a dig at the BJP government and termed it as anti-minority.
"The BJP government is anti-minority. The government has not started demolishing the illegal house built on the heritage site in Old Goa. There are still some citizens protesting against it," said Sardinha.
Condemning the demolition of a 25-year-old Christian structure at Gokunte near Mulbagal in Kolar on February 14, Sardinha said he would write a letter to the Karanataka Chief Minister over the issue.
He also urged the government to repair the roads and make proper traffic arrangements in Cortalim and Agassaim ahead of the Carnival festival which will commence from February 26.
"The carnival atmosphere has started in Goa. Tourists have started coming to Goa. This is causing traffic jams in some strategic places. the traffic control police should make arrangements to make the traffic smooth," he said.
