PANAJI: Denying the allegations that he has used the premises of the Vidya Prabodhini educational institution for “political purpose.” and is responsible for not holding the election to the posts of chairman, secretary and treasurer of the institution on schedule, the co-ordinator of the Bharatiya Bhasha Suraksha Manch (BBSM) Subhash Velingkar, on Thursday, alleged that the top state leadership of the Bharatiya Janata Party is plotting to oust him as the secretary of the Porvorim-based educational institution. Addressing a press conference, Velingkar said that the particular move was made by the Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar and the Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar for crushing the political agitation of the BBSM.
Pointing out that the move would definitely have a negative impact on the Vidya Prabodhini educational institution, one of the most successful schools in Goa, Velingkar said that the members of the Prabodhan Education Society, which runs the particular educational institution recently met at the official residence of the Chief Minister, in the presence of Parrikar and Parsekar, and agreed to communicate with the chairman of the society, Prabhakar Bhate, about sacking him as the secretary of educational institution.
Parrikar, Parsekar and Vithal Parrikar, who is the brother of the Defence Minister as well as the treasurer of the society, besides others signed on the letter addressed to Bhate stating that election to the posts of the chairman, secretary and treasurer of the society, which was due on September/ October 2016, has not been conducted. They also mentioned that Velingkar was abusing his power as secretary of the society, and using the school premises for political purpose as also for other activities, which are detrimental to the interest of the society.
The letter further called for a special general body meeting, for the purpose of conducting election to the three posts.
Speaking further, Velingkar said that a meeting of the executive committee of the society has been called on November 21, and if need be, the special general body meeting would be convened too. “However, many of the people who have signed the particular letter are blatantly lying as they very well know that the election for the three posts is scheduled in 2017,” he clarified, stating that he has never used the premises of the school for any political purpose, like the Arambol-based Harmal Panchakroshi educational institution run by the Chief Minister, is repeatedly used for holding the political activities of the BJP.
It was also informed that the issue of government grants to English schools is linked to education and the future of children, and hence the activities related to it can very well be conducted in the school.
The BBSM leaders including Arvind Bhatikar, Pandurang Nadkarni, Krishnaraj Sukerkar and Subhash Desai were also present at the briefing.
