A recent order from the Ministry of Personnel permitting government employees to participate in Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) activities has ignited a heated political debate between the opposition and the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
BJP leader Amit Malviya, in a post on X (formerly Twitter), celebrated the move, calling the 1966 ban “unconstitutional” and praising the Modi government for withdrawing it. He argued that the original order should never have been passed.
Malviya further explained the historical context, stating that the ban was imposed after a massive anti-cow-slaughter protest at Parliament in 1966, where the RSS and Jana Sangh mobilized a large number of supporters. This protest, he claimed, led to police firing and several deaths, and subsequently, a shaken Indira Gandhi, then Prime Minister, banned government staff from joining the RSS.
However, the opposition vehemently criticized the government’s decision. Congress MP KC Venugopal labeled it a “very unfortunate movement”, asserting that the BJP-led government is not learning from the people’s verdict.
AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi condemned the lifting of the ban, arguing that it undermines India’s integrity and unity. He accused the RSS of refusing to accept the constitution, national flag, and national anthem, and highlighted that every RSS member takes an oath prioritizing Hindutva over the nation. Owaisi further stated that no civil servant can be loyal to the nation while being an RSS member.
Congress General Secretary Jairam Ramesh joined the chorus of condemnation, highlighting that the ban, upheld even during former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s tenure, was lifted on July 9th. He reminded the public that Sardar Patel had banned the RSS in 1948, and even after the ban was subsequently withdrawn, the organization never flew the Indian flag in Nagpur. He argued that the 1966 ban on government employees participating in RSS activities was justified. Ramesh concluded that the relationship between the Prime Minister and the RSS has significantly deteriorated, leading to the lifting of the 58-year ban on government employees’ RSS involvement.
This controversial decision has sparked a fierce debate about the role of the RSS in Indian politics and its potential impact on the country’s secular fabric.
