The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh removed its Goa chief Subhash Velingkar on Wednesday, reported PTI. The RSS reportedly made the move in order to penalise Velingkar for taking a stand against the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party on the issue of the medium of instruction in schools.
RSS’ All India Prachar Pramukh Manmohan Vaidya said, “Velingkar has been relieved of his responsibilities. He wanted to get into some political activity. Being a Sangh leader, he can’t do that.” Vaidya said they have not decided on a new name for the post. Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar, however, is unhappy with the decision, reported NDTV. He said, "As a Swayamsevak, I would say it should not have happened".
On Monday, Velingkar announced that he will form a new party for the 2017 Assembly election in Goa to oppose the BJP in the state. According to PTI, he reportedly said the BJP was unlikely to win the upcoming polls because it did not keep its word on making Konkani and Marathi the medium of instruction in schools.
According to The Hindu, Velingkar’s Bharatiya Bhasha Suraksha Manch has long protested against the state BJP government for patronising English medium schools and sanctioning grants to the Archdiocese-led primary institutions. Volunteers of BBSM had protested using black flags at an event on August 20 that was attended by BJP’s national president Amit Shah.
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