Shiv Sena backed ex-Goa RSS Chief Subhash Velingkar in his fight against Defence Minister Parrikar.
The Shiv Sena in Maharashtra today backed former RSS Goa Chief Subhash Velingkar, and instead attacked Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar, in a move that may irk its ally the BJP.
Mr Velingkar was sacked for running a campaign against the BJP in Goa for continuing grants to 127 church-run English medium schools.
Senior Sena leader, Sanjay Raut accused Mr Parrikar of betraying his campaign promise of discontinuing grants to schools run by missionary organizations.
"Manohar Parrikar, the current defence minister, launched this movement with Subhash Velingkar when he was in the opposition in Goa. But, after becoming the chief minister he has forgotten his promises," Mr Raut said.
Backing Mr Velingkar's cause, the Sena said that his work was in national interest.
"The cause for which Mr Velingkar is fighting is in Goa's and the national interest. Homeland will be there only if the mother tongue remains. We don't know what is happening internally between the BJP and the RSS, but the Shiv Sena will always support the cause for which Mr Velingkar is fighting," Mr Raut said.
Mr Velingkar was sacked earlier this week after criticizing the BJP government in Goa as part of a campaign for making regional languages like Konkani and Marathi the medium of instruction in schools.
He had also accused the state government of favoring English over regional languages.
Things reached a head after the Bharatiya Bhasha Suraksha Manch, of which Mr Velingkar is a part, announced a political party to take on the BJP.