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Modi government lifts ban on government staff participating in RSS activities: Congress, Owaisi criticise move

In 1966 the then Congress government issued an order restricting government employees from associating themselves with RSS or Jamaat-e-Islami.

South First Desk

Published Jul 22, 2024 | 11:19 AM ⚊ Updated Jul 22, 2024 | 11:19 AM

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File photo. (RSS official website)

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The Modi-led NDA government in an order dated 9 July, revoked the 58-year-old restriction on government employees to participate in the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) activities.

“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 order read.

In 1966 the then Congress government issued an order restricting government employees from associating themselves with RSS or Jamaat-e-Islami.

Criticising the government’s move, AIMIM MP of Hyderabad, Asaduddin Owaisi called the revocation, an act against India’s integrity and unity.

He further wrote on X, “The ban on RSS exists because it had originally refused to accept the Constitution, the national flag & 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.”

Also Read: ‘True sevak is never arrogant’: RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat’s first remarks post LS polls

Congress criticises the move

Congress MP Jairam Ramesh too took to X on Sunday, 21 July, to criticise the government’s move.

Sharing the present order, and the 1966 order, Ramesh wrote, “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 Subsequently, the ban was withdrawn on assurances of good behaviour.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 said, alluding to the RSS uniform of khaki shorts which was replaced by brown trousers in 2016.

Congress leader Pawan Khera too shared the news on X

BJP dubs it as end of ‘Oppressive rule’ 

However, the BJP leaders are rejoicing the move, dubbing it as an end to “Oppressive rule”.

BJP MLA and Andhra Pradesh Minister for Health and Family Welfare Satya Kumar Yadav wrote on X, “Finally, after 50 years, Narendra Modi’s government has scrapped the atrocious Congress rule barring government employees from participating in RSS activities. Congress acted as a dictator, preventing government employees from engaging in the nationalist activities of the RSS, but this oppressive rule is no more.”

BJP IT cell head Amit Malviya shared the order on X on Sunday claiming that the then Congress government imposed the ban “shaken by the RSS-Jan Sangh clout.”

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