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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.
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 Modi’s administration has now removed the restrictions, citing the initial ban as “unconstitutional.”
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BJP leader Amit Malviya celebrated the move on social media, stating, “The 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issued 58 years ago, in 1966, imposing a ban on government employees taking part in the activities of the RSS has been withdrawn by the Modi government.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 shouldn’t have been passed in the first place.”
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in 1966, imposing a ban on Govt employees taking part in the activities of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh has been withdrawn by the Modi Govt.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 shouldn’t have been passed in the first place.
The ban was imposed… pic.twitter.com/Gz0Yfmftrp
— 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. “On November 30, 1966, shaken by the RSS-Jana Sangh clout, Indira Gandhi banned Govt staff from joining the RSS,” he added.
However, the opposition has strongly criticized the decision. Congress MP KC Venugopal called the order “a very unfortunate movement,” accusing the BJP-led central government of disregarding the people’s verdict.
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AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi condemned the lifting of the ban, arguing, “If true, this is against India’s 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.”
Congress General Secretary Jairam Ramesh also attacked the Union government, recalling the initial ban imposed by Sardar Patel in 1948 following Mahatma Gandhi’s assassination. Although the ban was later lifted on assurances of good behavior, Ramesh noted that the RSS never flew the national flag in Nagpur.
फरवरी 1948 में गांधीजी की हत्या के बाद सरदार पटेल ने RSS पर प्रतिबंध लगा दिया था।
इसके बाद अच्छे आचरण के आश्वासन पर प्रतिबंध को हटाया गया। इसके बाद भी RSS ने नागपुर में कभी तिरंगा नहीं फहराया।
1966 में, RSS की गतिविधियों में भाग लेने वाले सरकारी कर्मचारियों पर प्रतिबंध लगाया… pic.twitter.com/17vGKJmt3n
— 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. “On July 9, 2024, the 58-year ban that was in force even during Mr. Vajpayee’s tenure as PM was removed,” Ramesh said, suggesting, “The bureaucracy can now come in knickers too, I suppose,” a jibe at the traditional RSS uniform.
