Panaji, Nov 16 (TOI): Over 1,000 Goa Suraksha Manch (GSM) and Bharatiya Bhasha Suraksha Manch (BBSM) members will get together on Sunday to formally welcome former Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) Goa chief Subhash Velingkar into active politics. The meet will be held at the Swami Vivekanand Sabhagruha, Porvorim, from 9.30am to 1.30pm.
At the meeting, the members will also discuss about the organisation of a public meeting to be addressed by Velingkar in Panaji in December where nearly 8,000 GSM and BBSM workers are expected to be attendance.
GSM’s Atmaram Gaonkar said the party, which has been founded by Velingkar, is eager to welcome him in its fold. Stating that the worst of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Goa was seen after its win in the 2017 assembly elections and that this turn of events for the worse, over the last few months, is what necessitated Velingkar taking the plunge into active politics.
“In the near future, GSM will definitely contest the assembly polls from the Panaji seat. We will also contest the by-polls for the Mandrem and Shiroda seats. However, the details of who should contest in these constituencies are yet to be discussed and finalised,” Gaonkar said, amidst talks that Velingkar is likely to contest from the Mandrem seat.
Gaonkar further said that in the coming days, more RSS members and BJP workers are expected to join the BBSM and its political wing, the GSM. “We have also joined BBSM and GSM from the same place. When time comes, more will join us. Today, the grassroots-level worker of the BJP is utterly frustrated and unhappy with the political developments in the state. The workers are looking out for an alternative,” said Gaonkar.
He said that Velingkar, having worked for 55 years in the social and educational field, will be the ideal person to change the face of Goan politics for the better.
“Today, there is a dire need for people with ethics, such as that of Velingkar’s, to enter politics in the state,” Gaonkar said.
Velingkar left the RSS in 2016, after a long stint as its chief in Goa.
His main grouse was the BJP-led Goa government’s move to continue providing grants to primary schools that shifted their medium of instruction to English.