Employees of the Haryana government, Madhya Pradesh, and Chhattisgarh government and will now be able to attend ‘shakhas’ of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) with the ruling BJP lifting the ban on their participation in ‘non-political activities’ of the Sangh Parivar. The state government has revoked the ban, which was imposed during undivided Madhya Pradesh, barring government employees from participating in RSS’s activities.
Madhya Pradesh, also ruled by BJP, the ban was lifted a few years back, but was still in place in Haryana, and has been removed now. The ban on participating in political activities is still in force.
Though such a move may insipid the difference between government and a political party. RSS is known as a social-service organization but they are also running the BJP from the backdoor. Hence, the association of government employees with such organizations can harm the democratic process. Even though without abolishing such rules, most of the government employees have already taken sides and they are functioning for their favorites, now it would be little in open.
Now the Haryana government has scrapped a 54-year-old rule that restricted state government employees from joining or being associated with the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and the Jamaat-e-Islami. The government employees were first barred under Service (Conduct) Rules from joining these organizations on November 30, 1966, when Indira Gandhi was the prime minister, with the government believing they were not merely cultural or social organizations. The ban was briefly lifted in 1975 but re-imposed in 1980.
An MHA order issued on November 30, 1966, read: “The attention of the Ministry of Finance, etc., is invited to the provisions of sub-rule (1) of Rule 5 of the Central Civil Services (Conduct) Rules, 1964 under which no government servant shall be a member of, or be otherwise associated with, any political party or any organization which takes part in politics nor shall he take part in, subscribe in aid of, or assist in any other manner, any political movement or activity.
Ascertain doubts have been raised about the government’s policy with respect to the membership of any participation in the activities of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh and the Jamaat-e-Islami by government servants, it is clarified that the government has always held the activities of these two organizations to be of such a nature that participation in them by Government servants would attract the provisions of sub-rule (1) of Rule 5 of the Central Civil Services (Conduct) Rule, 1964. Any government servant, who is a member of or is otherwise associated with the aforesaid organizations or with their activities, is liable to disciplinary action.
Then, on July 25, 1970, the MHA reiterated its 1996 order and once again reiterated the same on October 28, 1980. The 1980 order also added: “In the context of the current situation in the country the need to ensure a secular outlook on the part of government servants is all the more important. The need to eradicate communal feelings and communal bias cannot be over-emphasized. The government and its officers, local bodies, state-aided institutions of petitions or representations on a communal basis, and no patronage whatsoever should be extended to any communal organization should take no notice. The Ministry of Finance etc., are, therefore, requested to especially bring once again to the notice of all government employees, working in or under them, the above-quoted provisions in para 1 (regarding ban on joining RSS or Jamaat-e-Islami) on the subject. It is emphasized that any disregard of these instructions should be considered as a serious act of indiscipline and suitable action initiated against the erring employees”.
In April 1980, instructions issued by the then general administration department of the Haryana’s chief secretary’s office restrained the State government employees from any association with RSS activities.
Before that in January 1967, the political and services branch of the chief secretary’s office in Haryana had issued an instruction saying that participation in RSS activities by government employees would invite action under the service rules.
Amid the reports of power crisis due to coal shortage in the country, Union Coal Minister Pralhad Joshi on Tuesday said that the shortage of fossil fuel was triggered due to rains causing an increase in its international prices. He further explained that imported coal power plants were either shut for 15-20 days or were producing very less, putting pressure on domestic coal.
Recently the Haryana government withdrew two orders, issued in 1967 and 1980, which restrained its employees from taking part in the activities of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), Jamaat-e-Islam. With this decision, now Haryana government employees can take part in RSS and Jamaat-e-Islam’s respective activities. The order prompted strong reactions from various think tanks of India.
BJP worker, advocate Devendra Sharma said, “I welcome the decision of Khattar Govt to abolish order which restricted participation of Govt employees in RSS activities as it will lead to an integration of Nationalist cultural values in Govt employees it is a much desirable step. At the same time, the government lifted the ban on Jamaat-e-Islam activities also which is dangerous. I am afraid this will further fuel rabid Islamification of treacherously sensitive Mewat region that is harshly affecting the adjacent areas also. Law and order are not a game of parity, instead of balancing dribbling Govt must initiate serious measures to control the radicalization of the Mewat region.”
Advocate Rohini Salian, a former Special Public Prosecutor of Maharashtra told Afternoon Voice, “All the governments should ban all those members who are affiliated from police to executives Judiciary and also Lawmakers and government employees from associating with all political communal religious organizations. Once a constitutional oath is taken, they are supposed to salute only mother India and the Indian flag. As per the constitution, we elect our representatives who are supposed to govern the nation ably.”
Bharat Dabholkar, Veteran Actor and Director said, “I think whatever rules apply to government employees regarding participating in activities of other organizations, should apply to RSS.”
Prof. Dr Sunil Baliram Gaikwad, Former MP from Latur said, “The Haryana government welcomes the revocation of the ban on participation of government employees in the RSS as the RSS is a social organization and no one has any objection to its participation. Should not be. I think it is a good decision in the public interest.”
Suresh Nakhua, BJP Mumbai Unit Spokesperson said, “RSS is the World’s largest volunteer and social organization. If government employees can take part in other organized programs of Institutes and Clubs for social service; then why can’t they take part in RSS? It’s the most Nationalistic organization I have ever seen. They firstly respond to any crisis and calamity. So this decision is well appreciated and should be followed by all states in the country that work with the central government.”
Nishant Varma, a veteran political analyst said, “The purpose of the Ban was to not let Govt employees be brainwashed with religious, Fascist ideology, which is definitely against the basic essence of ‘Constitution of India’. Such abolition as a balancing act by lifting the ban on RSS and Jamaat e Islami together is completely unacceptable in a Nation where Govt employees are restricted from voicing dissent towards the Ruling Dispensation and any Govt criticism lands them into Suspension from Service and/or Criminal cases filed against such employees.”
A day after five army personnel were killed in an encounter in Jammu and Kashmir, the Shiv Sena on Tuesday said revenge must be exacted five times the fatality of soldiers in the face-off with terrorists. An editorial in the Sena mouthpiece ‘Saamana’ claimed that after the nullification of special provisions of Article 370, which took away the special rights given to Jammu and Kashmir, Pakistan sympathizers have been emboldened.
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Tuesday conducted raids at five locations in Delhi and the National Capital Region (NCR) linked to the seizure of 2,998 kg drugs at Gujarat’s Mundra Port. This was the second in a series of raids carried out by the NIA on October 9 in connection with the case.
Bangladesh T20I skipper Mahmudullah will miss his team’s first warm-up match against Sri Lanka on Tuesday due to “slight back pain”. Bangladesh selector Habibul Bashar said the team doesn’t want to take any “risks” now ahead of the T20 World Cup.
Amid the state-wide Bandh called by the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government on Monday in protest against the Lakhimpur Kheri incident that claimed the lives of eight people including four farmers, the opposition calls it an ‘unconstitutional’ move and terms it a political gimmick.
When we asked Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut about the motive and purpose of the Bandh and also who would compensate the small-time vendors and employees those who lost their one-day wages, Raut said, “This bandh is not for any political or personal motive. We wanted to give a strong message that our Anna data (farmer) is not alone and we stand by them in their solidarity.”
BJP MLA Ram Kadam said, “This government is confused. They have outraged the constitution of India. Don’t they know that a ruling government cannot call out a state-wide Bandh? This is happening for the first time in the history of independent India. Keeping their own offices open they are shutting other businesses. Who will pay for their loss? Are they suggesting unemployment? Why the Maha Vikas Aghadi is not telling what have they done about the Nirbhaya incidents in Maharashtra? What about the Palghar mob lynching? In Kashmir, 7 Hindus are brutally murdered in 5 days. Is this not the double standard of this government?”
BJP General Secretary MLA Atul Bhatkalkar said, “This is state-sponsored terrorism. It is a political gimmick by ‘Maha Bighadi Sarkar’. They are calling Bandh in Maharashtra for the farmers of UP and what about the suicides of the farmers in Maharashtra? In the Marathwada division, 22-lakh hectare cultivation land has gone in water destroying the crop yield. CM has no time to visit there. In districts like Satara, Sangli, Kolhapur, Solapur, and Konkan farmers are yet to get disaster relief compensation. The ruling aide Raju Shetty has himself said that the relief helps is not reached as yet. This Bandh is nothing but Pawar and Thackeray dramatics. Commons are facing hardships. Best Buses are vandalized badly. Police and Shiv Sena walk hand in hand.”
Chief spokesperson of BJP Madhav Bhandari said, “This is scamming and an act of state-sponsored fanaticism. Thousands of farmers have committed suicide within the state and they are concerned about UP farmers. Not even a courtesy call was done to the deceased farmer’s family members. The flood-hit farmers of Konkan and Western ghat are still without a single penny aid. Destroying public property, threatening businessmen for their lives retelling them of Mansukh Hiren issue and terrorizing traders is pure terrorism.”
BJP MP Gopal Shetty told Afternoon Voice, “The time from which this Maha Vikas Aghadi government has come into power the Bandh began, so there is no Bandh today. I condemn this fake Bandh and this phoney of the three party’s decision. NCP and Congress killed many farmers in police firings when their coalition government was ruling. Why wasn’t a Bandh called at that time? BJP stands for those who lost their dear ones.”
Dhananjay Shinde of the Aam Aadmi Party said, “Announcement of Bandh by Government is a controversial decision. Most of the time it is just the politics of the ruling parties. Today MVA government has called for Bandh. But even BJP state governments had done the same during the UPA regime. Aam Aadmi Party always supports peaceful Bandh within the constitutional framework. We are always against forceful Bandh. The violence of political parties in power doing Bandh is absolutely cowardly act and not appreciated. Common men always suffer because of Bandh. There is an urgent need to brainstorm and find out the solution on how to compensate the commoner suffering because of Bandh.”
Maharashtra BJP leader Nitesh Rane warned, “If shopkeepers are forced to close shops tomorrow by any of the MVA karyakartas, they will have to face BJP karyakartas. Police should ensure no one is forced or else there will be a law-and-order situation, which is not our responsibility.”
A Special Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act (NDPS) court in Mumbai on Monday said that it would hear on Wednesday the bail plea of Aryan Khan, accused in the Mumbai cruise drug bust case.
Bus services were affected in Mumbai, Thane and Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR) areas on Monday and most of the shops and commercial establishments remained closed in the wake of the bandh called across Maharashtra by three partners in the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government to protest the killing of four farmers in Uttar Pradesh’s Lakhimpur Kheri district.