the goan I network
PANAJI
It’s final! Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) Goa Prant, the breakaway RSS headed by rebel RSS leader Subhash Velingkar, will be dissolved ahead of the State Assembly election results on March 11.
However, prior to making the formal announcement which is expected on March 6, the core group of RSS Goa Prant will work out the nitty-gritties in its meeting to be held on March 5.
The decision was taken after a three-hour long meeting of the office-bearers of the RSS Goa Prant in Porvorim. The meeting, chaired by its Sanghachalak Subhash Velingkar, was attended by core members Subhash Desai, Krishnaraj Sukerkar, Ramdas Saraf, Pravin Neswankar and Goa Suraksha Manch (GSM) President Anand Shirodkar among others.
The meeting also resolved that even after dissolution of the RSS Goa Prant, the swayamsevaks who had worked tirelessly for GSM during the State Legislative Assembly polls gone by, would continue to back GSM till their mission to discontinue grants to the minority-run English medium primary schools is achieved. Speaking to The Goan after the meeting, Velingkar said, “Our last meeting to decide on the nitty-gritties is scheduled on Sunday. Most of the members are of the opinion that RSS Goa Prant should be dissolved. Additionally, we will travel across the State to meet swayamsevaks before the final meeting prior to the announcement is held.
Stating that having two Sanghs is not in the interest of the State and the country, Velingkar said, “Sangh is a self-organisation and has nothing to do with the election process. There were differences on certain issues because of which we had left and said that we would return after election. We will not compromise on our principles may it be any issue. There are apprehensions being raised that we are compromising on our principles. Absolutely not. We will not tolerate any pressure from anyone, may it be a political party, or an individual. We will strongly stand by our principles.”
When asked if after dissolution the swayamsevaks would be affiliated to RSS headquarters in Nagpur, he said, “Sangh is only one and its headquarters is in Nagpur. But, Nagpur Sangh is not a brand and it was never so. So we don’t recognise it as a brand. But we will be linked to the headquarters in Nagpur. Sangh is the most informal organisation and as a swayamsevak if I feel like attending shakha once again, I will do it. Additionally, Bharatiya Bhasha Suraksha Manch (BBSM) and GSM will continue with their work.”
When asked about the need for RSS Goa Prant he said, “It was the need of the hour. There was pressure being put from the RSS machinery to finish our agitation. We were not against the Sangh, but against the Sangh machinery. If we had not done it at that point of time, there would have been interference from various fronts, and we would have not been able to continue with our agitation.”
