Row over Cong promise to restrict RSS activities in MP
BHOPAL: The Congress pledge to revoke a 2006 order allowing Madhya Pradesh government employees to participate in the shakhas (gatherings) of Bharatiya Janata Party’s parent organisation, Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), if it comes to power in the state has led to a war of words between the two sides.
While the Congress said it mentioned this in its manifesto for the state because the RSS was not a cultural organisation, the Sangh responded by saying that generations of Congressmen were scared of the RSS.
In the manifesto released on Saturday, the Congress also promised to ban the use of government buildings for holding shakhas.
The chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan-led BJP government in Madhya Pradesh, where the Congress has been out of power since 2013, issued an order allowing government employees to participate in the shakhas.
“We will ban the holding of RSS shakhas on the government premises and revoke the order allowing government employees and officers to attend RSS shakhas,” the manifesto said.
Congress spokesman Bhupendra Gupta defended the pledges, citing an October 1980 Union government order banning the participation of the central government employees in RSS activities. He said service conduct rules prevent the government employee from being part of any political party. Gupta added that it is only in Madhya Pradesh that the BJP government passed the order allowing its employees to take part in RSS shakhas.
Congress leader Manak Agrawal said there is “very little doubt” that the RSS is a political organisation with reference to its insistence on being a purely cultural outfit. “Its (RSS) members constantly comment on political developments and its cadre directly helps the BJP and many have dual membership.”
BJP spokesman Rajneesh Agrawal maintained the RSS is a social and cultural organisation. He said the courts have accepted it. “By raising this issue, the Congress is trying to project that RSS as anti-minority and trying to instill fear among the minorities and consolidate its vote bank.” He did not elaborate which courts was he referring to and how is it related to minorities.