RSS-2ND LD GOA 2 LAST

Earlier in the day, Velingkar’s supporters also toned Earlier in the day, Velingkar’s supporters also toneddown their rhetoric and protest, saying they had not rebelledagainst the Sangh but had only resigned from their posts. "It is not a rebellion. We will continue saluting thesaffron flag. We will work under Sarsanghchalak. But we willbe Goa prant," Raju Sukerkar, former North Goa head of RSStold PTI. Sukerkar was among the leaders who resigned after the RSSVelingkar was sacked after BBSM announced its intention toform a political outfit. Even as a large number of RSS workers including someoffice-bearers pledged support to Velingkar, many swayamsevaksappeared to be averse to the idea of parting ways with theSangh. "I am still with RSS with Nagpur as headquarters. Youcannot have a separate RSS prant like this. I am not with thegroup which has done so," Datta Bhikaji Naik, a senior RSSleader in Goa, told PTI. Naik said he had backed BBSM in his individual capacity. Ratnakar Lele, another senior functionary, said 80 percent of the swayamsevaks would not go with the new Prant. Velingkar crossed swords with the BJP government over themedium of instruction issue, with members of his outfit evenshowing black flags to party chief Amit Shah recently. He had yesterday said the Sangh unit in the coastal statewill function independently of the parent body, at least tillthe Assembly polls. However, RSS was quick to debunk him, saying none of itsunits can dissociate from the outfit and new office-bearersfor Goa will be announced soon. Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar declined to comment onthis development ahead of the Assembly polls next year. "I would not like to comment on it. It is their internalmatter," he said, adding, however "there cannot be a new Prantin Goa" and "in RSS, everything is decided by the centralleadership." But BJP’s ally Shiv Sena defended Velingkar, saying hehad committed no crime by demanding promotion of regionallanguages, which was an election promise of the BJP. PTI RPSGK ARS NM NSK KRKTIR