Won't have confrontational attitude towards BJP: Laxman Behre

PANAJI: Goa RSS chief Laxman Behre today said they will not have a "confrontational attitude" towards BJP or any other party on the controversial Medium of Instruction (MOI) issue.

"Sangh will not have confrontational attitude towards BJP or any other party on MOI. But we will continue to extend our support to Bharatiya Bhasha Suraksha Manch (BBSM)," RSS Goa Vibhag Sangh Chalak Behre told PTI today.

BBSM has been aggressively demanding making regional languages the medium of instruction in primary schools of Goa and stopping grants to English medium schools. It has been at loggerheads with the BJP-led state government for the last couple of months on the issue.

Behre's statement attains significance against the backdrop of BBSM's crucial meeting of September 16 where it will chart out a political strategy for the upcoming Assembly election due in March 2017.

He said he would not join BBSM on the dais during their functions, though he has been supporting the cause of mother tongue as MOI in elementary education.

"Sangh Chalaks never go on dais and give any statements. There is nothing in writing but it is always followed," Behre said, adding that RSS swayamsevaks will not be stopped from attending any of the BBSM meetings, including those organised by the Prant RSS.

RSS had relieved its former Goa Vibhag Sangh Chalak Subhash Velingkar from the post after BBSM announced its intention to form a full-fledged political party.

Behre said Velingkar very much remains to be a part of RSS and has been "relieved from the post so that he can work for BBSM".