‘Ban’ on govt employees taking part in RSS activities removed: Opposition says offices, staff being politicised

Sources said the move, coming in the backdrop of recent hiccups in the ties between the BJP and the RSS, was being seen as the party’s “positive gesture” to “call a truce” with its ideological parent. The BJP received an assurance that the Sangh’s leaders would not publicly criticise it or its leadership, the sources added. The BJP leadership took exception to RSS leaders’ recent public criticism of the party and the government, while the Sangh’s leaders were unhappy with BJP president J P Nadda’s comment during the Lok Sabha elections that the party was capable of running itself unlike in the past when it depended on the RSS.

Meanwhile, targeting the government, Kharge wrote on X, “This will be a challenge to the sense of neutrality of public servants in government offices and the supremacy of the Constitution. The government is probably taking these steps because the people defeated its nefarious intent to change the Constitution. The Modi Govt continues its efforts to take control over Constitutional bodies and work its way in through the back door and tamper with the Constitution. This is also a violation of the apology and assurance given by RSS to Sardar Patel in which they had promised that RSS will work as a social organisation without any political agenda, in accordance with the Constitution of India. The Opposition shall continue its efforts to protect the Constitution of India and our Democracy.”

Asked about the order, Biju Janata Dal (BJD) chief and former Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik told reporters in Bhubaneswar, “I can’t believe it. It seems utterly shocking.”

Demanding that the government withdraw the order, BSP president Mayawati said the Centre’s decision was politically motivated and aimed at appeasing the RSS to “alleviate the bitterness that has intensified between the two after the Lok Sabha elections over government policies and their arrogant attitudes”. She said the order was “beyond the national interest”.

In Delhi to attend the Budget Session of Parliament, Samajwadi Party (SP) president Akhilesh Yadav said, “It is a very sensitive thing. An officer on a sensitive post with their conduct inclined towards any political party or organisation, we are seeing it every day in Uttar Pradesh where government officials are working for a political party … Days of communal politics will be over very soon, people have realised.”

Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Priyanka Chaturvedi said officials in government bodies can now “officially prove their Sangh credentials”. “Such a shame, instead of aligning only to Bharat Mata’s interests, the BJP is leading them towards keeping ideological interests first,” she said.

AIMIM chief and Hyderabad MP Asaduddin Owaisi said the order, if true, goes against India’s integrity and unity. “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,” he said.

What RSS, BJP have said

RSS publicity in-charge Sunil Ambekar said for the last 99 years the RSS had been continuously engaged in rebuilding the nation and service to society.

“Due to the contribution of the Sangh in national security, unity-integrity and taking the society along during times of natural disasters, various types of leadership of the country have also praised the role of the Sangh from time to time. Due to its political interests, the then government had baselessly banned government employees from participating in the activities of a constructive organisation like the Sangh. The present decision of the government is appropriate and strengthens the democratic system of India,” Ambekar said in a statement.

BJP leader and Union Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal said the 1966 ban was driven by political reasons. “The Congress has always had a negative mindset for nationalist organisations and such thinking has no place in the country,” he told reporters outside Parliament. He alleged that Opposition parties were only interested in appeasement politics and had displayed a negative attitude towards Hindus.

The BJP’s IT Cell chief Amit Malviya also shared a screenshot of the latest order on social media and alleged that the 1966 order was “unconstitutional” and should not have been passed in the first place.

The BJP’s NDA allies Janata Dal (United) and the Rashtriya Lok Dal remained silent on the controversy. While JD(U) spokesperson K C Tyagi refused to comment on the order, RLD national spokesperson Mohammad Islam said he would remark only after the party discussed the matter.

—With inputs from Liz Mathew, Sujit Bisoyi, PTI