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The Indian government lifts a 58-year ban on public servants joining the RSS, indicating a rapprochement between the BJP and the RSS amid past tensions.
Key Points
- The Indian government lifts a 58-year-old ban on public servants being members of the RSS.
- The decision is seen as a move towards reconciliation between the BJP and the RSS.
- Opposition criticizes the move, claiming it aims to create an ideologically committed bureaucracy.
- RSS spokesperson Sunil Ambekar supports the decision, citing the organization’s historical service.
- The move follows recent tensions between the BJP and the RSS during the Lok Sabha elections.
The Indian government has lifted a 58-year-old ban on public servants being members of the Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh (RSS), a move that signals a potential reconciliation between the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the RSS after recent difficulties in their relationship. The order, issued on July 9, was met with praise from the RSS but faced criticism from the Opposition, which accused the BJP of trying to create an “ideologically committed bureaucracy.”
RSS spokesperson Sunil Ambekar welcomed the decision, stating, “The present decision of the government is appropriate and strengthens the democratic system of India.” He highlighted the RSS’s 99-year history of serving the country and society, and criticized the original ban as politically motivated. “Due to its political interests, the then government had baselessly banned government employees from participating in the activities of a constructive organization like the Sangh,” Ambekar added.
The timing of the order suggests it may be an effort by the Modi government and the BJP to address tensions that emerged during the recent Lok Sabha elections. A senior RSS office-bearer indicated that a senior Sangh member, who had previously coordinated between the BJP and the RSS, played a crucial role in resolving these issues.
During the Lok Sabha elections, the RSS expressed dissatisfaction over the inclusion of the Ajit Pawar faction of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) into the Mahayuti alliance in Maharashtra. This dissatisfaction reportedly led to the RSS’s reluctance to campaign for the junior Pawar’s NCP faction. Furthermore, BJP national president J.P. Nadda’s comments about the BJP’s ability to handle elections independently, without the organizational support of the RSS, also caused friction.
The recent reconciliation efforts appear to have borne fruit, as evidenced by the government’s order and potential upcoming welfare programs named after departed RSS leaders. These moves send a political message, signaling the BJP’s acknowledgment of the RSS’s importance and its role in the party’s broader strategy.
