Modi government lifts ban on government employees participating in RSS activities
- In Reports
- 10:31 PM, Jul 22, 2024
- Myind Staff
In a significant move, the central government has lifted the long-standing ban on government employees participating in the activities of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), as per an order issued by the Ministry of Personnel. This decision has triggered a fierce political debate between opposition leaders and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
BJP leader Amit Malviya confirmed the withdrawal of the "unconstitutional order" that had been in place for 58 years. "The Modi government has rescinded the order issued in 1966, which prohibited government employees from engaging in RSS activities. This order should never have been enacted," Malviya stated on X.
Malviya explained that the original ban was imposed following a massive anti-cow slaughter protest organised by the RSS-Jana Sangh at the Parliament on November 7, 1966, which resulted in police firing and multiple fatalities. "The ban was a reaction to the significant influence demonstrated by the RSS-Jana Sangh, which unsettled Indira Gandhi," he added.
Opposition leaders have criticised the government's decision. AIMIM chief and MP Asaduddin Owaisi argued that the order undermines India's unity. "If the government has indeed lifted the ban, it goes against the integrity and unity of the nation. The RSS has historically refused to accept the constitution, the national flag, and the national anthem. Membership in the RSS puts Hindutva above the nation, making it impossible for a civil servant to remain loyal to the country," Owaisi asserted on X.
Congress leader Jairam Ramesh also condemned the move, noting that the order had remained in effect even during former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee's tenure. "Sardar Patel banned the RSS in February 1948 following Mahatma Gandhi's assassination, and it was only lifted upon assurances of good behaviour. Despite this, the RSS never hoisted the national flag in Nagpur. The 1966 ban on government employees participating in RSS activities was justified," Ramesh stated.
This contentious decision has sparked a renewed debate over the role and influence of the RSS in Indian politics, with significant implications for the country's civil service and its political landscape.
Image source: PTI
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