Nearly two months after the central government ordered the removal of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) from its list of political organisations, the Uttarakhand government allowed state employees to participate in its programmes. An order issued by Additional Chief Secretary Anand Bardhan Thursday stated that participation in RSS’s shakha meetings as well as cultural and social programmes will not be considered a violation of conduct rules. “Concerning the above subject, after due consideration by the Government, it has been decided that participation by any State employee in Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) Shakha (Morning or Evening Sabha) and other cultural or social activities will not be considered a violation of Uttarakhand State Employees Conduct Rules, 2002 (as amended from time to time),” mentioned the letter issued by Bardhan. The letter further said that a state employee could participate or contribute in RSS shakha and other cultural and social activities “only if this work does not cause any hindrance to his or her official duties and responsibilities”. “Such participation or contribution can be done only before and after the official office hours… All Government orders issued earlier in this regard shall be deemed to be invalid,” it added. The RSS is the ideological fountainhead of the Bharatiya Janata Party, and the move is likely to cause a row. The Opposition had previously criticised the removal of the RSS from the list of political organisations, seeing the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) order dated July 9 as an attempt to politicise “government offices and employees”. Significantly, several BJP-ruled states across India have lifted these restrictions, although some others still have the curbs.
