RSS Welcomes Decision Allowing Govt Employees to Participate in Sangh Activities; BJP, Cong Spar

New Delhi: The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) on Monday praised the Centre's decision to lift the ban on government employees participating in Sangh activities, asserting that this move will boost India's democratic system. The RSS criticised previous administrations for imposing the ban to serve their political interests.

Historically, the government has prohibited its employees from associating with the RSS. Following the announcement of the ban's removal, which drew criticism from opposition leaders, RSS spokesperson Sunil Ambekar defended the decision. He stated that it is a positive step for strengthening India's democracy.

Ambekar highlighted the RSS’s longstanding involvement in national reconstruction and societal service over the past 99 years. He noted that the Sangh's contributions to national security, unity, and disaster relief have been acknowledged by various leaders. The RSS spokesperson accused past governments of imposing the ban baselessly due to political motives, despite the organization's constructive role.

Yesterday, Congress general secretary (Communications) Jairam Ramesh posted an office memorandum, dated July 9, issued by the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pension pertaining to the "participation of the government servants in the activities of RSS".

"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," the purported order read.

In a post along with the picture of the order, Ramesh said, "Sardar Patel had banned the RSS in February 1948 following Gandhi ji'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 Subsequently, the ban was withdrawn on assurances of good behaviour.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, Ramesh said.

"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," he said. "The bureaucracy can now come in knickers too I suppose," Ramesh added.

The Congress leader also shared the screenshot of the original order dated November 30, 1966, banning the association of government servants with the activities of the RSS and the Jamaat-e-Islami.

Sharing a screenshot of the July 9 order, Congress' media and publicity department head Pawan Khera said 58 years ago, the central government had imposed a ban on government employees taking part in the activities of the RSS. The Modi government has withdrawn the order, he added. 

Amit Malviya, head of the BJP’s IT department, shared a screenshot of a recent government order and claimed that the Modi government had overturned an “unconstitutional” directive from 58 years ago.

In a post referencing the July 9 order, Malviya stated, “The unconstitutional ban on government employees participating in Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh activities, issued in 1966, has been revoked by the Modi government.” He added that the original order should never have been issued.