Did RSS burn Savoikar’s effigies? Asks BJP chief
GOANEWS DESK, PANAJI | 09 April 2016 19:50 ISTBharatiya Janata Party really wonders if the Swayamsevaks of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh burnt effigies of South Goa BJP MP Narendra Savoikar.
When asked for his reaction on RSS members burning effigies of Savoikar, Goa BJP chief Vinay Tendulkar said he does not know who did this act – the RSS, the BBSM or ‘somebody else’.
As a result of a war over Medium of Instruction issue between the ruling BJP and its parent body – the RSS, its volunteers active in the Bharatiya Bhasha Suraksha Manch had burnt effigies of Savoikar, condemning his statement that Goa RSS chief Subhash Velingkar has lost his mental balance.
The RSS-headed BBSM has waged a political war on the BJP by mobilising cadres to defeat its political organ in the next election since it has backtracked from the election promise of withdrawing government grants to the Church-run English primary schools.
While condemning the acts of burning effigies, Tendulkar said he was never had such ‘sanskar’ in the RSS to burn effigies.
“This is certainly not RSS culture”, said the BJP president, who claimed to have risen to the post through RSS preachings.
Pundalik Naik, another BBSM leader and a Konkani writer, had called the BJP ‘father of liars’ when the ruling party said it was never part of the BBSM and had never made election promise to withdraw the grants.
“Pundalik Naik is a big liar. The government is still probing his misdeeds as the president of Goa Konkani Academy and also his acts of misusing his powers and funds”, said Tendulkar, in retaliation.
While the RSS volunteers are out on the streets to defame the BJP, the ruling party has now convened its state executive meeting in Panaji on Sunday, to be attended by 240 executive members.
“The meeting would plan out the election strategy and it would be guided by Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar and Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar”, said Tendulkar.
The meeting is also expected to pass some resolutions, not knowing whether it would include a resolution on the MoI as the party leaders have felt that the issue has already been resolved amicably.
Replying to a question, the BJP local chief said their alliance with the Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party would continue even in the forthcoming Assembly election.