Subhash Velingkar

Velingkar launched Bharatiya Bhasha Suraksha Manch an organization which promoted Konkani and Marathi in schools and the withdrawal of grants to English medium schools in the state of the Goa. He opposed the decision of then-Chief Minister of Goa Digambar Kamat-led government to provide grants to primary level English schools which was opposed by fellow politician Manohar Parrikar and other opposition leaders. After Bharatiya Janata Party-Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party alliance emerged victorious in the 2012 Goa Legislative Assembly election, they continued the grants which Velingkar opposed and subsequently dropped from the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) as the Goa chief due to his decision to float a political party. In protest 400 volunteers of the RSS resigned.^[6][7]

On 2 October 2016, Velingkar officially launched Goa Suraksha Manch but neither held any post and did not contest 2017 Goa Legislative Assembly election. He contested the Panaji Assembly constituency in the by-election in 2019 as a member of the Goa Suraksha Manch (GSM) and received 516 votes only.^[8][9][10]

The controversy was initiated by Velingkar, the Hindu Raksha Maha Aghadi chief. He stated that Saint Francis Xavier was instrumental in bringing in the Goa Inquisition during colonial rule.^[11] "Goencho Saib" can be translated into English from Konkani as, "Goencho" from Goa or Goan origin whereas "Saib" means "patron", thus means Goan patron for Goan Catholics. Velingkar continued that, instead of Saint Francis Xavier being known as Goencho Saib, the Hindu sage Parashurama deserved the title.^[12][13]

The reaction to this synthetic narrative was swift. Viresh Borkar, newly elected MLA of Revolutionary Goans Party (RGP), accused the Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) of being involved with Velingkar in creating the controversy. ^[14] The Chief Minister of Goa Pramod Sawant added, his government is focused on keeping harmony and equality, which is characteristic to Goa.^[15]