The Modi government has lifted a 58-year-old ban that prevented government employees from participating in RSS activities, a restriction established by the Congress government in 1966.
On Monday, the Opposition criticized this move, while the BJP defended the decision, claiming the ban was originally enacted in response to widespread anti-cow slaughter protests led by the RSS-Jana Sangh. The Congress party, however, accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of trying to ideologically politicize government employees.
The BJP welcomed the ban’s removal, calling it appropriate and impartial. The RSS supported this view, with spokesperson Sunil Ambekar stating that the decision would “strengthen the democratic system of Bharat,” highlighting the RSS’s commitment to nation-building and social service.
Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge condemned the action, arguing it undermines the neutrality of public servants and the Constitution’s authority. He accused the BJP of leveraging the RSS to gain control over constitutional and autonomous bodies, labeling the decision as a covert attempt to modify the Constitution.
Kharge stated, “We see how the BJP is using the RSS to take over all constitutional and autonomous bodies. By allowing government employees to engage with the RSS, Modiji aims to politicize government roles and employees ideologically.”
He warned that this poses a threat to the neutrality of public servants and the supremacy of the Constitution, referencing historical opposition to the RSS, including its resistance to the national flag and its temporary ban after Mahatma Gandhi’s assassination. Kharge cautioned that the government’s actions are part of a larger strategy to undermine constitutional principles.
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