Goa RSS expelled chief says will work against BJP

Backing Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar, the RSS sought to send a strong warning to more than 400 volunteers of its unit in Goa who announced that they were resigning in protest against the sacking of state RSS chief Subhash Velingkar.

No unit of the RSS can dissolve on its own, said RSS spokesperson Manmohan Vaidya on Thursday. He said the Goa unit will remain functional and new office-bearers would be announced shortly. 

This is the first time in the recent memory of the RSS that members of a state unit have raised the banner of revolt.

The volunteers announced their decision after they held a meeting near Panaji to discuss the removal of Velingkar, who has locked horns with Parrikar and Goa BJP leaders.

Velingkar, who also heads an organisation called the Bharatiya Bhasha Suraksha Manch (BBSM), was removed from his post by the RSS brass on Wednesday. 

Velingkar has been critical of the BJP government in Goa for promoting English over regional languages like Konkani and Marathi. The RSS decision to remove him came after a long duel between him the BJP leaders. Three days ago, Velingkar had threatened to support a new political party to defeat BJP in Goa polls next year.

Last week, he was spotted in a protest where black flags were waved at BJP president Amit Shah in the state.