Clarion India: New Delhi: Saturday, August 03, 2024.
Critics argue that the RSS promotes Hindu supremacy and intolerance towards minorities, making the government’s decision to lift the ban contentious.
The central government has decided to keep documents related to the lifting of the 58-year-old ban on government officials joining the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) confidential. This decision has sparked a wave of criticism from the opposition, while leaders of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) have lauded the move.
The Modi government declassified documents about its decision to revoke the ban on government employees joining the activities of the RSS, a prominent Hindutva organisation linked with the ruling BJP. The ban, which has been imposed four times since 1947, was lifted on July 9. However, the decision was not immediately made public. The Hindu reported that the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Department of Personnel and Training published an official memorandum regarding this on their website on Wednesday.
On the same day, the news website The Wire sought a copy of the referenced document under the Right to Information (RTI) Act. However, the Department of Personnel and Training declined the request, stating that the documents were classified as “confidential” and could not be disclosed publicly. An unidentified source cited by The Wire indicated that the government is currently deliberating on the issue.
The Madhya Pradesh High Court had previously revoked the ban following a plea by a former government official, recognising the RSS as a world-class organisation. On July 25, the high court directed the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Department of Personnel and Training to make the decision publicly available on their website.
The opposition has been vocal in its disapproval of the central government’s decision. Samajwadi Party MP Ramjilal Suman drew a controversial comparison between the RSS and the National Testing Agency (NTA). In response, Rajya Sabha Speaker and Vice President Jagdeep Dhankar defended the RSS, describing it as a world-class think tank that enjoys constitutional protection and rights under Articles 12 to 35.
Critics argue that the RSS promotes Hindu supremacy and intolerance towards minorities, making the government’s decision to lift the ban contentious. On the other hand, BJP leaders have praised the move, asserting that the RSS is a patriotic organisation committed to national service.
The decision to keep related documents confidential has further intensified the debate, with opposition parties demanding transparency and accountability. The central government, however, maintains that the confidentiality of these documents is necessary and justified.
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