Goa RSS chief sacked because his agitation was going political: Sangh

Goa RSS Chief Subhash Velingkar was sacked on Wednesday because of a language agitation he was leading -- against the BJP-led coalition government in the state -- was taking a political turn, a statement issued by the Hindu organisation said.

The formal statement issued by the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) Konkan region Chief Satish Modh said that while the RSS backed the premise of the language agitation, which Velingkar and his group Bharatiya Bhasha Suraksha Manch (BBSM) were leading, going political was never an option with the RSS.

"As part of the agitation, BBSM has made announcement about formation of a political party. RSS, since its inception, has never been involved in politics, and hence, RSS would have no role in the political endeavour of BBSM," Modh said.

"With this background, it has been announced in a recent meeting of senior RSS office-bearers that convenor of the BBSM Prof Subhash Velingkar has been relieved from his responsibilities as the Goa Vibhag Sanghachalak," he added.

Velingkar, who was sacked earlier in the day by RSS publicity division chief Manmohan Vaidya, has not commented on his removal yet.

Velingkar over the last few months was extremely critical of the state Bharatiya Janata Party's education policies, which he said favoured the English language and not regional languages Konkani and Marathi.

A few years ago, the BJP had campaigned with the BBSM and promised to make education in Goa's government-aided primary schools compulsory in Konkani and Marathi.

On Monday, Velingkar, as co-convenor of the BBSM, had said that the Manch would float a new political party, with the specific purpose to defeat the BJP.

Velingkar had also been part of a protest meet, which had shown black flags to BJP national president Amit Shah during his visit to Goa, on August 20.

--IANS

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