An order reportedly issued by the Ministry of Personnel that permits government servants to part in the activities of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh has resulted in a war of words between the opposition and the BJP.

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Amit Malviya on Monday said that the “unconstitutional order” issued 58 years ago imposing a ban on government employees from taking part in RSS activities has been withdrawn by the central government.
“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1966, imposing a ban on government employees taking part in the activities of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh has been withdrawn by the Modi government.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 on X on Monday citing the July 9 order.
“The ban was imposed because, on November 7, 1966, there was a massive anti-cow-slaughter protest at the Parliament. RSS-Jana Sangh mobilised support in lakhs. Many died in police firing. On 30 Nov 1966, shaken by the RSS-Jana Sangh clout, Indira Gandhi banned Govt staff from joining the RSS,” he added.

Reacting to the issue, AIMIM (All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen) Chief Asaduddin Owaisi on Monday said that the order was against India’s integrity and unity, adding that no civil servant can be loyal to the nation if he is a member of RSS.
“This office memo purportedly shows that the government has lifted the ban on government employees participating in RSS activities. If true, this is against India’s integrity and unity. The ban on RSS exists because it refused to accept the constitution, the national flag and 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,” Owaisi posted on X.

Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh launched a scathing attack on the Union government alleging that the ban that was in force even during former PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s tenure was removed on July 9.
“Sardar Patel had banned the RSS in February 1948 following Gandhiji’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 Subsequently, the ban was withdrawn on assurances of good behaviour.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,” he 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. The bureaucracy can now come in knickers too I suppose,” the Congress general secretary added.

Congress leader Pawan Khera also posted on X, “58 years ago, the Central Government had imposed a ban on government employees taking part in the activities of the RSS. Modi govt has withdrawn the order.”