Velingkar’s removal anticipated as a possibility: BBSM

Panaji, Aug 31 (PTI) Removal of RSS’ Goa unit chiefSubhash Velingkar over the medium of instruction (MoI) issuewas anticipated as one of the possibilities, Bharatiya BhashaSuraksha Manch (BBSM), of which he is a convener, said today. "It is not that we had not anticipated this kind ofsituation. While deciding to agitate on the medium ofinstruction issue, we had considered all possibilities,"senior BBSM leader Pundalik Naik told PTI. His reaction came hours after Velingkar was relievedas the Goa Vibhag Sanghchalak by RSS after he announced hisintention to float a political outfit to contest LegislativeAssembly elections in Goa, due next year. Velingkar was part of the group that had shown blackflags to BJP president Amit Shah during the latter’s recentvisit to the coastal state. RSS has been opposing the state government’s stand onproviding grants to English medium schools while demandingthat education in schools be imparted in regional languages. BBSM has been agitating for withdrawal of grants beinggiven by government to English medium schools. Naik said "When BBSM was formed, some like-mindedpeople had joined hands in their individual capacities toprotect the regional languages. Velingkar was not on BBSM bythe virtue of being RSS Goa chief. He had come as anindividual." He recalled that Velingkar was given responsibility asBBSM convener after its president Shashikala Kakodkar, formerChief Minister of Goa, took ill. "Many other RSS workers who are working actively forBBSM had anticipated such kind of situation (Velingkar’sremoval)," he said, adding that BBSM will continue its fightfor regional languages as the medium of instruction (MoI) instate. Velingkar was not available for comment since morningdespite repeated calls and text messages. PTI RPS NSK SMJBAS