Govt Employees can now participate in RSS activities, Central Govt lifted decade long Ban

On Monday, the central government lifted a long-standing ban on government employees participating in activities organized by the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS).
Details of the Order
The official order stated, “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.” This decision effectively nullifies previous restrictions that had been in place for decades.
Historical Context
Background of the Ban
Amit Malviya, head of the BJP’s IT cell, provided historical context, explaining that the ban was initially implemented following a massive anti-cow-slaughter protest at the Parliament on November 7, 1966, which was supported by the RSS and Jana Sangh. “The unconstitutional order issued 58 years ago, in 1966, imposing a ban on government employees taking part in the activities of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh has been withdrawn by the Modi government. The original order shouldn’t have been passed in the first place,” Malviya stated in a post on X. He added that the ban was a reaction to the significant influence demonstrated by the RSS-Jana Sangh during the protest, which led to fatalities due to police firing. “On 30 November 1966, shaken by the RSS-Jana Sangh clout, Indira Gandhi banned government staff from joining the RSS,” he noted.
Reactions to the Decision
Support and Criticism
The decision to lift the ban has elicited mixed reactions. While some see it as a correction of an old wrong, others view it as a problematic move.
Criticism from Opposition
Uddhav Thackeray faction of the Shiv Sena leader Priyanka Chaturvedi expressed strong disapproval of the government’s decision. She argued that the order allows government officials from various agencies to openly demonstrate their allegiance to the RSS ideology. “With this order, ED, IT, CBI, ECI and other sarkari officers can officially prove their Sanghi credentials. Such a shame, instead of aligning only to Bharat Mata’s interests, BJP is leading them towards keeping ideological interests first,” Chaturvedi stated.
Conclusion
The lifting of the ban on government employees participating in RSS activities marks a significant policy shift and has sparked debate about the implications for governmental neutrality and ideological influence within public institutions.