Government Lifts 58-Year Ban on Employees Joining RSS, Sparks Debate

New Delhi [India], July 22: A recent order from the Ministry of Personnel has allowed government employees to participate in activities of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), leading to a heated exchange between the opposition and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

BJP’s Response

BJP leader Amit Malviya announced on Monday that the central government has withdrawn a 58-year-old ban on government employees joining RSS activities. He stated, “The unconstitutional order issued 58 years ago, in 1966, imposing a ban on government employees taking part in the activities of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh has been withdrawn by the Modi government. The original order shouldn’t have been passed in the first place.”

Opposition’s Reaction

All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) Chief Asaduddin Owaisi criticized the decision, saying it was against India’s integrity and unity. He argued, “This office memo purportedly shows that the government has lifted the ban on government employees participating in RSS activities. If true, this is against India’s integrity and unity. The ban on RSS exists because it refused to accept the constitution, the national flag and 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.”

Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh also condemned the move, noting that the ban was in place even during former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s tenure. He said, “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 Subsequently, the ban was withdrawn on assurances of good behaviour.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.”

Congress leader Pawan Khera added, “58 years ago, the Central Government had imposed a ban on government employees taking part in the activities of the RSS. Modi govt has withdrawn the order.”