Centre lifts ban on government employees participating in RSS activities
National News

Modi Govt Lifts 58-Yr Ban On Civil Servants Joining RSS, Oppn Parties Cry Foul

July 22, 2024
The Commune

The central government led by the Bharatiya Janata Party has lifted a decades-old ban on government employees participating in activities of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), sparking a political controversy.

The order shared by many political leaders from all political parties read, “The undersigned is directed to refer to the OM (office memorandum)..dated 30.11.1966, OM No. 7/4/70-Est.(B) dated 25.07.1970 and OM No. 15014/3(S)/80- Estt. (B) dated 28.10.1980 on the above subject. 2. The aforesaid instructions have been reviewed and it has been decided to remove the mention of Rashtriya Swayam Sewak Sangh (R.S.S.S) from the impugned OMs dated 30.11.1966, 25.07.1970, and 28.10.1980.”

Congress member Jairam Ramesh wrote, “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 Subsequently, the ban was withdrawn on assurances of good behaviour.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. After June 4th, 2024, relations between the self-anointed non-biological PM and the RSS have nosedived. On July 9, 2024, the 58-year ban that was in force even during Mr. Vajpayee’s tenure as PM was removed. The bureaucracy can now come in knickers too I suppose.”

The decision, formalized in a 9 July 2024 order by the Ministry of Personnel, has been confirmed by BJP leader Amit Malviya, who called the original ban “unconstitutional.” Malviya explained why the 1966 ban was imposed in the first place. He wrote on his official X account, “The unconstitutional order issued 58 years ago, in 1966, imposing a ban on Govt employees taking part in the activities of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh has been withdrawn by the Modi Govt. The original order shouldn’t have been passed in the first place. The ban was imposed because, on 7 Nov 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.”

AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi cried foul and wrote on his X handle, “This office memo purportedly shows that the govt has lifted the ban on govt employees participating in RSS activities. If true, this is against India’s integrity and unity. The ban on RSS exists because it had originally refused to accept the constitution, the national flag & 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.”

The RSS welcomed the decision, describing the original ban as baseless and politically driven. The Print reported that Sunil Ambekar, Akhil Bhartiya Prachar Pramukh, RSS stated, “Due to its political interests, the then (1966) 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 is going to strengthen the democratic system of India.”

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