PANAJI: Rebel RSS leader Subhash Velingkar on Sunday exhorted swayamsevaks to become like Narasimhas and defeat the BJP in the upcoming state polls, blaming the saffron party of trying to denationalise Goans, destroying local culture and going overboard with minority appeasement.
Velingkar, who was addressing the first conclave of the rebel RSS unit in Goa, also blamed Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar -- a former state CM -- of trying to split the rebel RSS ranks.
"We have to become like Narasimhas. The opponents of our agitation are not mere opponents of our culture and mother tongue, they are its devourers. Their defeat is imminent," Velingkar said.
Narasimha, an avatar of the Hindu god Vishnu and often visualised as having a human torso and lower body with a lion face and claws, is believed to have taken the avatar to destroy the demon king Hiranyakashyapu.
Velingkar attacked the Bharatiya Janata Party as well as Parrikar for backing English over regional languages -- Marathi and Konkani -- as the primary language of education in Goa's primary schools.
The RSS leader also said thatg not a single party worker supported the BJP's decision to allot state government grants to primary schools teaching in the English language, adding that the RSS leadership was scared of his criticism of Parrikar.
"They say do not take Manohar Parrikar's name. He is a culprit and he is responsible for creating this situation. If I am to not take his name, then am I really putting out the truth before the people," he wondered.
Earlier this month, Velingkar, had accused Parrikar of using his influence with the Sangh top brass and sacking him as the state RSS chief. The RSS leader has also formed a parallel unit of the RSS in Goa, which has nominated him as the sanghachalak.
He also criticised "the malgovernance and failure" of the state BJP government in fulfilling promises under the rein of Parrikar, the then Chief Minister, and incumbent Laxmikant Parsekar.
The Sangh on Saturday appointed a new sanghachalak for Goa.
Continuing his tirade against the local BJP unit, Velingkar said voting for the BJP in the state assembly polls due next year would lead to destruction of local culture.
The BJP, he said, was keen on appeasement of minorities -- even more than the Congress in Goa.
"The BJP will accept all demands which lead to de-nationalisation. If BJP is re-elected, they will be free to commit the sin of allowing grants to all English schools. They will say, they've got the mandate to do this. BJP should not be given the licence to destroy the culture," Velingkar said.
Criticising the BJP's position on the issue of dual citizenship, triggered by a unique Portuguese law which allows natives of its colonies to become Portuguese citizens, Velingkar said the saffron party was pandering to the demands, largely made by the state's Catholic population, for dual citizenship.
"One lakh Portuguese nationals are citizens of Goa, adopted citizens. They can contest elections here. They can work here even in sensitive areas. They can become directors (in government departments), they can buy property here. Portugal citizens can either leave our nationality or Portugal's nationality. They have to make a choice. Can there be two fathers? The very concept of dual citizenship should be rid of. This will destroy nationalism," Velingkar said,
Claiming that Hindus and Catholics in Goa shared common ancestors, he said the RSS had no differences with Goan Catholics, who account for 26 per cent of the state population.
"But if there is a sense of anti-nationalism in some corner, then the government, which is elected on our votes, which is enjoying perks of office with our money, is stoking it (with its dual citizenship stance). Should people tolerate this? No!"
Velingkar also said that the BJP even promised the restarting of the pro-Portuguese Fontainhas cultural festival -- Goa's unusual festival of the arts -- in an election manifesto for a recent bypoll in Panaji, a constituency formerly represented by Parrikar himself.
"We have not sold the state capital to the Portuguese. We need to be careful of those who want to restart this festival. You have to fear their agenda, when they come back with public mandate," Velingkar warned.