Harassment of Velingkar suicidal move by BJP, RSS: Shiv Sena

Panaji: The Shiv Sena in Goa on Friday called the "harassment" of RSS leader Subhash Velingkar by the Sangh and the local BJP as "suicidal", and also backed the Velingkar-led regional language agitation.

"This harassment of Velingkar is a suicidal move by the BJP and RSS. They will come to regret this. The Shiv Sena stands fully by Velingkar and his movement for promotion of regional languages in Goa's primary schools," state Shiv Sena president Sudeep Tamankar told a press conference in Panaji.

Velingkar, who was sacked as Goa vibhag Sangh Chalak on Wednesday, has formed a breakaway Goa unit of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, with nearly all local Sangh office bearers backing his move.

The RSS top brass has however refused to recognise the new faction and has said that they would appoint a new Sangh Chalak for Goa soon.

Velingkar has said that he has been targeted by the RSS top brass and Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar for criticising the state BJP-led coalition's pro-English education policies, which the RSS leader claims were undermining regional languages Konkani and Marathi.

The RSS has however claimed, that the Velingkar-led agitation had political ambitions and he was therefore removed from the state Sangh Chalak post.