NT NETWORK
PANAJI
The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh has appointed Lakshman ‘Nana’ Behare as the new in-charge, the sanghchalak, and Mahesh Dhavalikar as the secretary, the karyavah, for Goa on the eve of the ‘show of strength’ convention of the rebel Goa RSS unit headed by Subhash Velingkar, which will be held in the state.
Behare and Dhavalikar will function under the Kokan prant (district) of the RSS.
These appointments clearly indicate that the rebel Goa RSS unit has no affiliation to the RSS headquarters. Behare is a retired teacher and during early 1990s, he was instrumental in founding Keshav Seva Sadhana, a voluntary organisation to work for the underprivileged section of the society in Goa, especially in the field of education and health.
Behare has extended the support of the newly constituted Goa RSS unit under the Kokan prant to the medium of instruction agitation of the Bharatiya Bhasha Suraksha Manch. He, however, has stated that this support would not transcend beyond cultural ambit, into the political sphere.
The daylong convention of the rebel Goa RSS unit to be held on September 11 is expected to chalk out programmes for strengthening the agitation launched by the BBSM in support of its demand to withdraw government grants to 135 English primary schools in Goa. The BBSM agitation has been backed by the rebel Goa RSS unit.
The convention would also reach out to women to join the mother tongue campaign under the banner of BBSM.
It is also expected that the convention to be held at Dr K B Hedgewar School, Cujira, Bambolim, would be attended by 2,000 swayamsevaks or volunteers of the RSS, who are supporting the rebel Goa RSS unit.