RSS has unimpeachable credentials, is global think tank of highest order: V-P

Taking exception to the comment, the Chairman asked Suman to stick to asking his question. When Leader of Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge said Dhankhar should allow the member to speak as long as the rules were being followed, the Chairman responded that Suman had “trampled the Constitution of India”.

“RSS is an organisation which is a global think tank of the highest order… I will not permit honourable member to single out an organisation which is doing national service… I hereby rule that RSS is an organisation that has full constitutional rights to participate in the development journey of this nation. This organisation bears unimpeachable credentials, comprises of people who are deeply committed to serving the nation selflessly. To take exception that a member of this organisation cannot participate in development journey of the nation is not only unconstitutional, but beyond the rules,” he said.

He added that everyone should take pride in an organisation that is contributing to national welfare.

“…if we take exception like this, it is indicative of undemocratic situations. It is antithetical to the preamble of our Constitution. We are doing great disservice to the nation and the Constitution by taking such divisive stance…I increasingly find that people are engaging into divisive activities. This is a pernicious design, a sinister mechanism to run down the growth of the country,” he said.

He said any organisation, including the RSS, was entitled to contribute to the journey of the nation. Recently, the Union government had lifted restrictions on government employees participating in RSS activities. The Department of Personnel and Training on July 9 issued the office memorandum removing mention of the RSS from OMs from 1966, 1970 and 1980 that banned government employees from engaging in RSS activities.

The chairman’s remarks sprang from the question asked by Shiv Sena MP Priyanka Chaturvedi on the functioning of the NTA and the action taken regarding the irregularities and leaks in the NEET (UG) and UGC NET exam last month.

Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan said the revised result of NEET (UG) 2024 had been declared on July 26 and the UGC NET 2024 exam had been cancelled. The Ministry of Education had constituted a high-level committee on June 22 to suggest measures for smooth conduct of exams by NTA, he said.

He said around five crore students had appeared in different examinations held by NTA in the past seven years.

Asked by Chaturvedi about the action taken against the burgeoning coaching industry, the Minister said: “I have no hesitation in saying that coaching centres should not be there. We will have to bring students out of the world of coaching centres with the consensus of all.”