Goa Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar. Goa Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar.

The war of words between the RSS’s Goa unit and the BJP-run state government is showing no signs of abating, with the government asserting that grants to English medium schools will continue despite the Sangh’s opposition, and the latter starting campaign against this “minority appeasement” in constituencies of ministers and BJP lawmakers.

The state RSS chief has warned that if the government does not withdraw the grant by June 1, “we will find an alternative of the BJP”.

But emphasising that grant to English medium schools in the state will “continue”, BJP’s Goa unit chief V D Tendulkar told The Sunday Express: “A majority of students in these schools are Hindus. Many of those running the movement have their children in English medium schools, but they are asking people to get their children educated in Konkani and Marathi. This is hypocrisy.” Tendulkar also alleged that some of the protesting leaders run English-medium schools.

Perhaps for the first time, the state RSS is taking this campaign to constituents of BJP leaders. On Sunday, it is scheduled to hold a rally in Siroda, the constituency of Social Welfare Minister Mahadev Naik. This comes after state RSS had held a rally in CM Laxmikant Parsekar’s constituency, Mandrem, on April 17. Pointing out that the Mandrem rally saw a “record turnout”, RSS’s Goa Sanghachalak Subhash Velingkar told The Sunday Express: “We brought their voters and told them about the issue…. This agitation will be decisive. The government grant should be withdrawn by June 1 (or) we are going to the constituencies and bringing together their voters…”

Velingkar also said the Sangh knows Parsekar and Union Defence Minister and former CM Manohar Parrikar have “already met” BJP chief Amit Shah. “We have learnt that they have met even Narendra Modi-ji,” he said. “There is pressure from the BJP, but the RSS represents the people, not any party — hum unhein siddhant nehin todne denge (we will not allow the BJP to go against principles).”

The Sangh and Bharatiya Bhasha Suraksha Manch, which has many Swayamsevaks as members, have been leading an agitation demanding that the state government withdraws its grant to all 129 primary schools that impart education in English — a move that, the government contends, would adversely impact nearly 29,000 students.

The government wants to bring a Bill on the issue and legalise the grants, a move vehemently opposed by the Sangh.

WATCH INDIAN EXPRESS VIDEOS HERE

📣 The Indian Express is now on Telegram. Click here to join our channel (@indianexpress) and stay updated with the latest headlines

For all the latest India News, download Indian Express App.