PANJIM: The Bharatiya Bhasha Suraksha Manch (BBSM) on Sunday announced a new political outfit called the Goa Suraksha Manch (GSM), few months before the state Assembly elections.
Addressing a press conference in the city, BBSM leader and RSS Goa Prant Sanghchalak, Subhash Velingkar said today, “we have formed a political party (Goa Sursaksha Manch) with the intention of forming the next government by defeating the BJP.
“GSM will contest in 35 constituencies for the upcoming Assembly elections and senior BBSM leader Anant Shirodkar will head the party as its president,” said Velingkar.
“We can’t wait till December-end for MGP’s response. If MGP agrees at a later stage, we will think of having some kind of seat-sharing agreement with them,” he added.
Stating that for the past 15 months, BBSM has been continuously agitating against the BJP-led government demanding mother tongue be made medium of instruction (MOI) and withdrawal of grants to English medium schools.
“We are also in talks with Shiv Sena and Goa Praja Party for alliance, but with or without the MGP, we will definitely defeat the BJP,” Velingkar said.
Velingkar also made it clear that BBSM will continue with its work even after the formation of GSM. However, it may be noted that when the list of office-bearers was announced, Velingkar’s name was not to be seen anywhere.
Meanwhile, BBSM’s political cell in-charge, Uday Bhembre, said the party will also focus on various issues like power and water in Goa.
“GSM’s main objective is to defeat the BJP government, which has failed to deliver the promises on the MOI. The BJP-led government is completely corrupt and inefficient,” alleged Bhembre.
Bhembre also said BBSM decided to form a political outfit to oppose the ruling BJP in Goa mainly after the party came to power and refused to withdraw grants to English medium schools.
“We are ready to wait for the MGP to break away from the BJP. If the MGP does not sever ties with BJP before the election notification is issued, we will field our candidates against them too,” he added.
Meanwhile, GSM is likely to go into a pre-poll alliance with Shiv Sena, as Velingkar had stated that Sena leader and MP Sanjay Raut had approached the BBSM, however the GSM and Sena are expected to announce a formal of pre-poll alliance after Shiv Sena’s chief Uddhav Thackeray’s visit to Goa in mid-October.
