The Ministry of Home Affairs has lifted the ban on government employees joining the RSS, which had been in place since 1966. In July, an official order was issued to withdraw the ban. The order has recently been displayed on the ministry’s website for public knowledge.
Amit Malviya, BJP’s IT head, stated on X: “The unconstitutional order issued 58 years ago, in 1966, imposing a ban on government employees participating in the activities of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh has been withdrawn by the Modi Government.”
He added, “The original order shouldn’t have been passed in the first place.”
In a statement, RSS spokesperson Sunil Ambekar said, “The present decision of the government is appropriate and strengthens India’s democratic system. The contribution of the Sangh to national security, unity, and integrity has been praised by the people of this country. The ban on government employees participating in the activities of a constructive organisation like the Sangh was baselessly imposed by the then government due to its political interests.”
The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party welcomed the decision, while Congress and other opposition parties criticized the move.
“The ban was imposed because on November 7, 1966, there was a massive anti-cow-slaughter protest at the Parliament. The RSS-Jana Sangh mobilized support in lakhs, and many died in police firing. On November 30, 1966, shaken by the RSS-Jana Sangh’s influence, Indira Gandhi banned government staff from joining the RSS,” posted BJP leader Amit Malviya on X.
On the other hand, Jairam Ramesh from Congress also shared on X: “Sardar Patel had banned the RSS in February 1948 following Gandhi ji’s assassination. Subsequently, the ban was lifted on assurances of good behaviour. Even after that, the RSS never flew the Tiranga in Nagpur.”
While the ban had been in effect since November 30, 1966, several state governments, including Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, and Chhattisgarh, had already removed the restrictions on government employees participating in RSS activities.
The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, a Hindutva group, is the parent organisation of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party. It has been banned three times since Independence. Critics argue that it promotes Hindu supremacy and intolerance of minorities.
