NEW DELHI: The Indian government has lifted a decades-old ban on government employees participating in activities of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), triggering a political debate.
The decision reverses orders issued in 1966, 1970, and 1980, which had prohibited such participation. The office memorandum of the decision was issued with the approval of competent authority.
The RSS, a 99-year-old organisation known for its national service and disaster relief efforts, has often been embroiled in political controversies. Prime Minister Narendra Modiโs administration has now removed the restrictions, citing the initial ban as โunconstitutional.โ
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BJP leader Amit Malviya celebrated the move on social media, stating, โThe unconstitutional order issued 58 years ago, in 1966, imposing a ban on government employees taking part in the activities of the RSS has been withdrawn by the Modi government. The original order shouldnโt have been passed in the first place.โ
The unconstitutional order issued 58 years ago, in 1966, imposing a ban on Govt employees taking part in the activities of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh has been withdrawn by the Modi Govt. The original order shouldnโt have been passed in the first place.
The ban was imposedโฆ pic.twitter.com/Gz0Yfmftrp
โ Amit Malviya (@amitmalviya) July 22, 2024
Malviya elaborated on the historical context of the ban, explaining that it was imposed after a massive anti-cow slaughter protest organized by RSS-Jana Sangh supporters on November 7, 1966, which resulted in police firing and casualties. โOn November 30, 1966, shaken by the RSS-Jana Sangh clout, Indira Gandhi banned Govt staff from joining the RSS,โ he added.
However, the opposition has strongly criticized the decision. Congress MP KC Venugopal called the order โa very unfortunate movement,โ accusing the BJP-led central government of disregarding the peopleโs verdict.
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AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi condemned the lifting of the ban, arguing, โIf true, this is against Indiaโs integrity and unity. The ban on RSS exists because it refused to accept the constitution, the national flag, and the national anthem. Every RSS member takes an oath that puts Hindutva above the nation. No civil servant can be loyal to the nation if he is a member of RSS.โ
Congress General Secretary Jairam Ramesh also attacked the Union government, recalling the initial ban imposed by Sardar Patel in 1948 following Mahatma Gandhiโs assassination. Although the ban was later lifted on assurances of good behavior, Ramesh noted that the RSS never flew the national flag in Nagpur.
เคซเคฐเคตเคฐเฅ 1948 เคฎเฅเค เคเคพเคเคงเฅเคเฅ เคเฅ เคนเคคเฅเคฏเคพ เคเฅ เคฌเคพเคฆ เคธเคฐเคฆเคพเคฐ เคชเคเฅเคฒ เคจเฅ RSS เคชเคฐ เคชเฅเคฐเคคเคฟเคฌเคเคง เคฒเคเคพ เคฆเคฟเคฏเคพ เคฅเคพเฅค
เคเคธเคเฅ เคฌเคพเคฆ เค เคเฅเคเฅ เคเคเคฐเคฃ เคเฅ เคเคถเฅเคตเคพเคธเคจ เคชเคฐ เคชเฅเคฐเคคเคฟเคฌเคเคง เคเฅ เคนเคเคพเคฏเคพ เคเคฏเคพเฅค เคเคธเคเฅ เคฌเคพเคฆ เคญเฅ RSS เคจเฅ เคจเคพเคเคชเฅเคฐ เคฎเฅเค เคเคญเฅ เคคเคฟเคฐเคเคเคพ เคจเคนเฅเค เคซเคนเคฐเคพเคฏเคพเฅค
1966 เคฎเฅเค, RSS เคเฅ เคเคคเคฟเคตเคฟเคงเคฟเคฏเฅเค เคฎเฅเค เคญเคพเค เคฒเฅเคจเฅ เคตเคพเคฒเฅ เคธเคฐเคเคพเคฐเฅ เคเคฐเฅเคฎเคเคพเคฐเคฟเคฏเฅเค เคชเคฐ เคชเฅเคฐเคคเคฟเคฌเคเคง เคฒเคเคพเคฏเคพโฆ pic.twitter.com/17vGKJmt3n
โ Jairam Ramesh (@Jairam_Ramesh) July 21, 2024
He criticized the timing of the move, alleging deteriorating relations between PM Modi and the RSS since June 4, 2024. โOn July 9, 2024, the 58-year ban that was in force even during Mr. Vajpayeeโs tenure as PM was removed,โ Ramesh said, suggesting, โThe bureaucracy can now come in knickers too, I suppose,โ a jibe at the traditional RSS uniform.
