PANJIM: Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) today ruled out of having any differences with Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh leaders in the State over the medium of instruction issue.
“We are not having any differences with RSS on MoI issue. If at all there are some differences, they will be sorted out,” BJP Goa President Vinay Tendulkar said talking to reporters on Sunday. Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar in the presence of Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar chaired the State Executive Committee meeting.
While sources confirmed that the party had discussions on MoI issue and lambasted RSS leader Subhash Velingkar for his statements against the party, Tendulkar said “there was no discussion on the issue during the meeting which was called to discuss plan for upcoming assembly elections.”
RSS Goa Chief Subhash Velingkar had openly criticised former chief minister Manohar Parrikar for giving grants to schools with English as MoI.
BJP Member of Parliament Narendra Sawaikar responding to his comments had challenged Velingkar to contest the election. Bharatiya Bhasha Suraksha Manch, which is backed by RSS, had burnt effigies of Sawaikar last week.
Tendulkar told reporters today that the grants for English medium schools will continue while party is firm that regional language is the medium of instruction.
He ruled out that the State government will inject any change in the MoI policy.
The party, which is gearing up for 2017 Goa Legislative Assembly Election, has decided to begin its ‘Ghar Chalo Abhiyaan” from May onwards.
Tendulkar said abhiyaan would visit all the 40 constituencies while party aims at winning in 26 assembly constituencies.
He said this time Ghar Chalo Abhiyaan would be different from 2012 polls. “We will not focus anything negative against Congress but instead would highlight the positives of BJP-led government in the State,” Tendulkar added.
