The central government has lifted the ban on government employees participating in the activities of the Hindutva outfit Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), according to an order issued by the Ministry of Personnel.
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Amit Malviya, while citing a July 9 order by the central government, confirmed that the Narendra Modi-led government has withdrawn the “unconstitutional order” which was passed 58 years ago, imposing a ban on government workers participating in RSS activities.
The Opposition leaders have criticized the government's decision to lift the decades-old ban.
"The unconstitutional order issued 58 years ago, in 1966, imposing a ban on government employees taking part in the activities of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh has been withdrawn by the Modi government. The original order shouldn't have been passed in the first place," Malviya posted on X.
"The ban was imposed because, on November 7, 1966, there was a massive anti-cow-slaughter protest at the Parliament. RSS-Jana Sangh mobilised support in lakhs. Many died in police firing. On 30 Nov 1966, shaken by the RSS-Jana Sangh clout, Indira Gandhi banned Govt staff from joining the RSS," he added.
Veteran Congress leader Jairam Ramesh slammed the central government over the order and said the Modi-led government withdrew an order which was in place even during ex-PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee's regime.
"Sardar Patel had banned the RSS in February 1948 following Gandhiji's assassination. Subsequently, the ban was withdrawn on assurances of good behaviour. Even after this the RSS never flew the Tiranga in Nagpur. In 1966, a ban was imposed - and rightly so - on government employees taking part in RSS activities," the Congress leader said.
The All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) chief and MP Asaduddin Owaisi condemned the BJP's move, saying that the order goes against India's unity and that no civil servant can continue to be loyal towards the nation if they are part of RSS.
"This office memo purportedly shows that the government has lifted the ban on government employees participating in RSS activities. 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," Owaisi posted on X.
Meanwhile, the RSS has welcomed the move, saying it would strengthen the country's democratic system. It further accused the earlier regimes of promoting their own political interests by imposing the ban in the past.
"Due to the RSS’s contributions in times of national security, unity-integrity, and natural disasters, the various types of leadership in the country have, from time to time, praised the role of the RSS," the outfit's leader Sunil Ambekar said.
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