New Delhi: In a significant policy reversal, the Indian government, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has removed the longstanding prohibition on government employees from participating in activities of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS). This move has drawn sharp criticism from the opposition Congress party.
According to Kashmir Media Service, the ban, which had been in effect since 1966, was rescinded by an order from the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) issued on July 9. The ban’s removal is seen as part of broader efforts by the BJP government to normalize relations with the RSS, amid reports of recent tensions between the Prime Minister and the organization.
Congress leader Jairam Ramesh reacted to the development by questioning its timing and linking it to the alleged rift within the ruling party. He also criticized the decision’s implications, humorously noting that it would now permit bureaucrats to participate in RSS activities “in knickers too,” referencing the traditional RSS uniform.
On the other side, BJP spokesperson Amit Malviya defended the decision, declaring the original ban “unconstitutional” and arguing that it should never have been enacted. He portrayed the lifting of the ban as a restoration of civil liberties to government employees.
The RSS, a Hindu nationalist organization, was initially banned in 1948 following the assassination of Mahatma Gandhi by a former member. Although the ban was subsequently lifted, restrictions were reintroduced in 1966 due to ongoing concerns about its activities. The recent decision to lift the ban completely marks a significant shift in government policy towards the organization.