Developments in Goa RSS due to misunderstanding: Arlekar

Panaji, Sep 2 (PTI) Developments related to Sangh in Goa,including sacking of state unit chief Subhash Velingkar, couldbe the fallout of "misunderstanding", RSS swayamsewak and BJPminister Rajendra Arlekar said today even as he termed thedevelopments as a "transitional phase". "There may be a misunderstanding, either this side(Velingkar camp) or that side (parent RSS). That is why thereis a noise around the (ongoing) developments," Forest MinisterArlekar told reporters. RSS recently "relieved" Velingkar of the charge as GoaVibhag Sangh Chalak after Bharatiya Bhasha Suraksha Manch(BBSM), of which he is a convener, announced their intentionto float a political outfit to contest Legislative Assemblyelections slated next year. BBSM has been fighting for withdrawal of grants to Englishmedium schools and for the cause of promoting regionallanguages as Medium of Instruction (MoI) in the coastal state. In subsequent developments, RSS workers in Goa yesterdayannounced their detachment from the parent body and formedSangh’s separate ‘prant’ (region) for Goa which was earlierunder Konkan region. They even reinstated Velingkar as head ofRSS’ Goa Prant. Against this backdrop, Arlekar said RSS swayamsevaks onboth sides are feeling bad and unfortunate about thehappenings. "But this is a transitional phase. We willovercome it," he said. At the same time, Arlekar clarified that he is notoffice-bearer of RSS, but has been associated with Sangh forlong. "What Sangh I know from my childhood is headquarteredat Nagpur. There cannot be two sanghs," he said, referring tothe Velingkar faction’s move to form separate RSS Goa prant.PTI RPS NSKKUNRYS