Opposition MPs slam Chhattisgarh govt nod for staff to join RSS

Opposition MPs on Monday found fault with the BJP-led Chhattisgarh government for allowing its employees to join Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), saying this would end up in politicising the bureaucracy.

As Congress and Samajwadi Party members raised the issue in Rajya Sabha, ruling party MPs tried to interrupt their speeches following which Congress leader Anand Sharma said that “constant heckling” of opposition members will vitiate the atmosphere and the right of members should be accepted.

The issue was first raised by SP MP Naresh Agarwal who said the BJP government in the state allowed its employees to attend RSS camps.

He claimed that RSS  “is an organisation that encourages communal forces which want to divide the country”, following which BJP MP Vinay Katiyar objected.

‘Independence affected’

Agarwal also claimed that it is a “dangerous order” as the independence of government officials, who are supposed to conduct elections, would be affected.

Amid the din, Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi reminded the opposition that it was not proper to make “irresponsible allegations” against any particular organisation. Deputy Chairman P J Kurien said he would look into records and expunge parts, which are objectionable.

Congress MP Pramod Tiwari did not name the RSS but said some organisations had been banned earlier, which again resulted in the ruling side objecting to it. He quoted Sardar Vallabhai Patel to say that the ideology associated with an organisation was responsible for the assassination of Mahatma Gandhi.

Last week, Chhattisgarh government had revoked the ban on employees joining RSS, which was imposed during undivided Madhya Pradesh.

The earlier order had said that participating in RSS activities or functions by government employees would be a  violation of the Civil Services rules. The ban was lifted in Madhya Pradesh, which is also a BJP-ruled state, earlier.