Rift widens in RSS Goa unit

Members of RSS in the state resign protesting Subhash Velingkar's removal

The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) in Goa is seeing mass resignations from the functionary positions to protest at the decision to remove Subhash Velingkar as state chief.

The Bharatiya Janata Party, ruling party in the state and part of the RSS ideological family, has been formally silent on the issue. However, party leaders and legislators are concerned at the political impact, with state elections not far away.

Velingkar has already addressed public meetings in Mandre, assembly segment of the state's Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar. He had hinted at more rallies there in the coming days. He's also held rallies elsewhere, for his Bharatiya Bhasha Suraksha Manch (BBSM), to assemble support on the issue of medium of instruction and cancellation of state grants for English-medium schools.

An RSS functionary said, ''The RSS has been active in both north and south Goa and Velingkar has been a leading light and pillar. He has been instrumental in spreading the network. It seems the leadership has been misguided.''

Velingkar said, so far the BBSM's agitation was only on the medium of instruction but as a political outfit, a broader agenda would be prepared.