GUILHERME ALMEIDA
MARGAO
The ongoing turmoil in the state Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) may be considered in many quarters as an internal affair of an organisation that has its presence across the country.
Minority Salcete, however, is closely watching the emerging developments in the RSS camp, trying to assess the fall out of the events on government’s grants to English medium primary schools in particular and the minorities in general.
Caution appears the catchword for the moment, aware that the present crisis has stemmed from the ruling BJP’s decision not to discontinue grants to the Church-backed schools. People here are also equally aware of the fact that the BBSM and breakaway RSS group headed by Goa Prant Chief Subhash Velingkar had been vocal in their criticism of the Church and the minorities vis-Ã -vis grants to the Church-backed schools. It is feared in some quarters that the RSS Goa Prant may only harden and toughen its posture on issues such as MoI to create space for itself in the scheme of things vis-Ã -vis the RSS and the ruling BJP ahead of the Assembly election.
While Fr Victor Ferrao, attached to the Rachol seminary strongly felt that the developments in the RSS may further compound problems for the minorities, especially on the MoI front, leaders like Adv Radharao Gracias said the crisis will soon end, predicting a patch up between the rival factions in the RSS.
Says Fr Victor: “First, there was only one aggressor, now there will be two with the same ideology and opposed to grants to English medium schools. They are creating confusions and dividing the people. What is happening in the RSS may not be good for Goa as a whole. They have the same goal and the same ideology”.
City-based eminent cardiologist, Dr Franciso Colaco, on the other hand, said one has to wait and see the fall out of the emerging development. “It is a fact that the movement of the BBSM leaders was not only on MoI, but it was a direct attack against the Church as well. Let us wait and see how the Goa prant RSS led by Subhash Velingkar and the group works its way after moving away from the RSS”, he said.
Forum for Rights of Children’s Education (FORCE) Secretary, Savio Lopes said one has to only wait and watch the events unfolding in the RSS. “Let us wait and see how the developments settle down or whether they will transform into a movement or will simply fizzle out. I know that there was so much venom poured out by those demanding scraping of grants to the English medium schools. They have been provocative with no valid reason”, he said.
He reminded that FORCE had even invited BBSM for a debate and had even demanded closure of all English medium schools if imparting primary education in English medium will affect the local culture and language, but lamented that all these things had not found favour with the group. ‘We believe that Goan culture is love, peace and brotherhood. People of Goa will decide whether we want peace, amity and brotherhood in the State, he said.
City-based lawyer, Adv Radharao Gracias, however, said that the RSS leaders will strike a compromise between the RSS and the breakway Goa Prant. “The prospects of BBSM or the breakaway RSS hardening its stand on MoI and other issues cannot be discounted. But, I am of the strong opinion that they will come together after some time”, he said.
