RSS axes Goa chief for acting against BJP government

Bharatiya Bhasha Suraksha Manch led by Subhash Velingkar announced its decision to oppose the BJP government ahead of the 2017 Assembly polls

The Rashtriya Swaymsevak Sangh (RSS) on Wednesday removed its Goa chief Subhash Velingkar for his continued agitation and protests against State BJP government over the contentious issue of introducing Konkani and Marathi as medium of instruction (MoI) at the primary school level.

With the State BJP not meeting its electoral promise of stopping grants to the Archdiocese-led primary schools in English language, fearing a backlash from its significant Catholic voter base in the State, a week ago the Bharatiya Bhasha Suraksha Manch (BBSM), led by Mr. Velingkar, showed black flags to the BJP national president Amit Shah during his visit to Goa.

Mr. Velingkar and many of his RSS supporters have been fighting with the BJP alliance government in the State for long over government grants to primary educational institutions. The BBSM has been advocating primary education only in regional languages and seeking the withdrawal of government patronage to English medium primary schools.

The issue came to head early this week when the BBSM on Monday announced its decision to float a regional outfit to oppose “betrayer BJP government” in the Assembly polls in early 2017.

Sources in the Goa RSS confirmed the decision of the organisation, but Mr. Velingkar declined to respond when reached for his reaction.

Sources close to Mr. Velingkar told

The Hindu on Wednesday that he would place his views before the people during a press conference convened by the BBSM on Wednesday.

Goa Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar on Wednesday expressed regret over the removal.

Should not have happened: CM

Coming out of a special session of the Assembly convened for ratifying the GST Bill on Wednesday, the Chief Minister initially refused to comment on the issue, but when pressed to say something, Mr. Parsekar quipped, "As a Swayamsevak, I would say it should not have happened".

Earlier on Wednesday, RSS official Manmohan Vaidya said Mr. Velingkar was sacked for working against the BJP-led coalition government in Goa and floating a political outfit.