Headlines
Goa's Catholic legislators to raise Yoga Day issue with CM
Panaji, June 10
Goa's Catholic legislators and
representatives of minority educational institutions could raise the
issue of compulsory yoga in the state's schools on the occasion of World
Yoga day on June 21.
After a meeting of all Catholic MLAs and
officials of the Roman Catholic Church-operated Diocesan Society of
Education, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLA from Calangute assembly
constituency Michael Lobo told reporters on Wednesday that instead of
making yoga compulsory, the decision should be left to individual school
managements and parents.
"The MLAs are not taken into
confidence. We would have to discuss about this... The discussion may
take place tomorrow (Thursday), if the Diocesan Society of Education
(DSE) takes it up (with the chief minister)," Lobo said.
Lobo,
along with nearly a dozen Catholic legislators across party lines, met
DSE secretary Fr. Zeferino D'Souza over a host of issues related to
minority educational institutions in the state, specifically about the
BJP-led coalition government's refusal to give requisite permissions to
start four new higher secondary schools built by the Society.
The
Catholic lawmakers from the BJP, Congress, Goa Vikas Party and even
Independent minority legislators along with DSE officials are scheduled
to meet the chief minister on Thursday where the issue of compulsory
yoga is also expected to be discussed, Lobo said.
"Ideally, the
individual school managements and parents should decide... but we will
take up the issue with the chief minister," Lobo said.
June 21 has been declared as the World Yoga day and compulsory yoga is expected to be conducted across the country.