PANJIM: A wary BBSM, which says it “feels cheated and betrayed” by the BJP-led government on the contentious issue of Medium of Instruction, has on Monday announced its decision to float a political outfit. If BBSM fails to tie up, it will go alone in 35 seats during the 2017 assembly election.
However, claiming RSS backing, BBSM has expressed its willingness to form an alliance with the MGP — which is a coalition partner of BJP in the State government — provided it snaps ties with the saffron party by September 30.
Addressing media persons, BBSM political cell in-charge Uday Bhembre said during the recently held joint meeting with the Central committee, it has been decided to float its independent political party, which will contest the 2017 polls either in alliance or all alone. “For now, we have a stronghold and a candidate each in mind for 35 constituencies. We are working in five other constituencies — Nuvem, Benaulim, Cuncolim, Quepem and Velim,” he said.
“We are ready to ally with MGP provided they break ties with BJP. We have given them a deadline till September 30. MGP and we can have an alliance and contest the polls on a seat-sharing basis,” Bhembre said.
Bhembre said MGP is the only party that has openly backed BBSM’s demand and hence it is open to have an alliance with them.
BBSM has constituted a special committee headed by Adv Redhaynath Shirodkar, which will frame the party’s constitution, decide its name and also get it registered with the Election Commission.
“BJP has cheated and betrayed us. But we want to be self-reliant now… we don’t want to be betrayed again,” he said adding that the party manifesto will also focus on issues like special status, casinos, good corruption-free governance, etc.
Speaking about the RSS, the Sangh chief and BBSM convener Subhash Velingkar said RSS has always been with BBSM in its decision and will continue to do so. “RSS during its All-India meeting in March last year, had resolved to protect the mother tongue, promote education in mother tongue as it as an universal concept and all efforts should be made for the development of the mother tongue,” he said.
“The RSS, across the country, including Goa, is working towards this resolution. RSS has its own ideology and at any cost it won’t compromise with it,” Velingkar said.
Asked about any kind of pressure tactics adopted by the BJP against RSS to distance itself from BBSM, Velingkar said “RSS cannot be pressurized by any political party.”
