PONDA
Speaking to The Goan, Velingkar said it was better to have ‘one Sangh’ than to have ‘two Sanghs’. “This would make the Sangh stronger,” Velingkar stated.
“It’s quite natural that when 95 per cent of the Swayamsevaks join hands with the remaining five per cent, it will definitely become stronger. Credit will go to all and not to me alone,” he said.
“We had decided to form the RSS Goa Prant and to stay separate from the Konkan Prant of RSS to avoid pressure
from the BJP. We tirelessly worked under BBSM and now we are free to return to RSS.”
Defending his decision to return to the RSS Konkan Prant after a bitter split following his unceremonious ouster as head of Goa RSS, Velingkar replied: “I had declared at that time (while leaving) that I would come back after elections are over.”
Asked whether his differences with BJP leader Manohar Parrikar would remain even after the merger of his RSS Goa Prant with the Konkan RSS Prant, Velingkar said: “I don’t have personal differences with him, but have differences with policy making, which gave grants to English schools.”
“We accused the BJP of betraying Goans on this issue. We have not changed our stand on this. Differences with policy makers will remain,” he said.
“Around 4,000 Swayamsevak had left the RSS for principles, which we have not surrendered. We will never compromise on these principles,” he added.
According to Velingkar, he has convened a meeting of main Swayamasevaks on March 2, to decide on the merger with the Konkan RSS Prant, but declined to reveal the venue of the meet.
When contacted, Goa RSS chief Laxman alias Nana Behre said everyone was welcome in their fold. “There are no formalities like proposal and other things, if they want to merge, then their presence in the ‘Shaakha’ is enough,” Behare told The Goan.
Asked if Velingkar’s return would help RSS become stronger, Behre said: “We were always strong.”
“Let them return and work for the RSS. A decision about positions will be taken after that,” said Behare, while responding to another question on whether Velingkar would be given any post in the amalgamated Goa RSS.
