 "Subhash Velingkar")
Sacked Goa Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) unit chief Subhash Velingkar held the maiden meeting of RSS Goa Pradesh, reiterating to step up the fight for the defeat of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the coming state Assembly election slated for 2017 on the issue of promotion of Konkani and Marathi while pressing for the withdrawal of grants to English medium schools.
Terming the BJP as anti-culture and anti-Matrubhasha (mother tongue), more than 2,500 swayamsevaks, in a resolution, decided to extend their unstinted support to Bharatiya Bhasha Suraksha Manch (BBSM) until it achieves success in its demand to discontinue government grants to the 135 English primary schools in Goa and encourage Konkani and Marathi languages.
The convention in Cujira, North Goa, unanimously extended its support for the formation of RSS Goa Pradesh, disassociating itself from the Konkan Prant of the RSS, and the appointment of Velingkar as its chief. The new executive council of the RSS Goa Pradesh was also declared during Sunday's convention.
On behalf of the participants, Velingkar clarified that no one had left the RSS but that this was a temporary arrangement made in an emergency situation for pursuing the cause of Matrubhasha.
"The BJP government has started the process of decentralisation by attacking out culture, which even the Congress had not done in so many years,'' Velingkar said. Further, he criticised the BJP government for its move to set up a Minority Commission in Goa and announced strong opposition to this move by the RSS Goa Pradesh and BBSM.
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Velingkar declared that BJP's plan to provide dual citizenship and revive Portuguese culture by bringing back Fontainhas Festival would also be opposed, especially in the run up to the Assembly election.
Pre-poll alliance of BBSM, MGP & Shiv Sena to take on BJP
BBSM, Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party (MGP) and Shiv Sena may form an alliance to take on the ruling BJP in the next Assembly election. Velingakar, who is the founder of BBSM, has already given time to MGP till September 30 to break its alliance with the BJP so that a pre-poll tie up can materialise. Similarly, Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut on Saturday held a two-hour closed-door meeting with Velingkar, hinting at a possible alliance.
Already, BBSM has selected 35 candidates and is awaiting a response from MGP. On its part, Shiv Sena has said that Velingkar has done no crime by demanding that regional languages be promoted in Goa schools.
Raut, who is currently in Goa travelling for party work, told Business Standard, ''Shiv Sena has been fighting for this cause for over 50 years and therefore has full support to Velingkar. Matrubhasha (Mother Tongue) and Matrubhoomi (Mother land) have been at the heart of BJP and RSS. It seems both have gone back on their words.'' He also indicated that his party was open for pre-poll alliance with BBSM.
Raut reminded that Shiv Sena president Uddhav Thackeray has already announced that his party, despite the partnership with the BJP at the Centre and in Maharashtra, will contest Assembly elections independently across the country, including in Goa and Uttar Pradesh.
