Panaji, 7 September: Goa Pradesh Congress Committee (GPCC) President Girish Chodankar has strongly criticised Chief Minister Pramod Sawant over the deployment of police in connection with a protest by 16-year-old students seeking continuation of their teachers as examinations approach.

Chodankar said the students were peacefully raising a genuine concern about the transfer of their teachers and were not protesting against the government.

“Students asking for their teachers are not a law-and-order problem. They deserve dialogue, understanding and answers, not intimidation,” Chodankar said.

He questioned the government’s sensitivity in responding to students’ concerns with police presence instead of engaging with them and addressing their apprehensions over the impact of teacher transfers on their studies ahead of examinations.

“Gen Z is speaking. Gen Alpha is questioning. But the Sawant Government simply refuses to listen,” he said.

Chodankar also targeted Sawant in his capacities as Home Minister and Education Minister. He alleged that the government had failed to effectively tackle drugs, crime and shooting incidents, while the Education Department was now failing to take decisions that safeguard students’ academic interests.

Calling the episode another example of the government’s failure to listen to young voices, Chodankar said Goa’s students deserved a more sensitive and responsive administration.

“Goa’s children deserve better,” the GPCC President said.