M A I N   N E W S

RSS drops demand

NEW DELHI, Feb 13 (UNI) — In an apparent shift from its stand on the issue of lifting the ban on government servants joining the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), the RSS today said that it had decided to drop the demand by leaving it to the government to decide on the issue as the politicisation of the issue would not be in national interest.

Sangh chief Rajindra Singh, in a statement, maintained that the RSS had never made a ‘formal or informal’ request to this effect to the government.

Describing the recent controversy on the issue of lifting restrictions on government servants, the RSS chief said that it was unfortunate that some political parties were trying to politicise the issue.

He said that the Sangh in its 75 year journey had never aspired for any government patronage and broadened its base despite hurdles. The British were the first to impose a ban on government employees from taking part in the RSS activities.

The controversy gained ground after the BJP governments in Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh and Himachal Pradesh lifted the ban on their staff participating in the RSS activities. The issue took a serious turn, when some NDA partners too expressed their reservations.

The RSS chief, in his statement pointed out that his organisation had braved several governments since Independence. The growth was mainly due to inherent strength of Hindutva, he said.

Mr Singh said the RSS had never attempted to build its image in the media since 50-60 years even in adverse situations. “Should the ban be lifted or not or its timing are issues to be left to the government,’’ he said.

Recalling his conversation with mediapersons at a function relating to the RSS official organ Panchajanya, he said he was of the view that any ban on participation of government servants in any organisation was bad. He had also pointed out that even Britain had not banned its employees from taking part in such organisations. Except judiciary and police staff, others were free to carry out political activities.

The British example had only been narrated to support his point of view and it was not his intention that this should be applied to the Indian situation, he added.

With this development, the RSS has given a reprieve to the Atal Behari Vajpayee government, which was facing criticism not only from the Opposition but also from within the NDA.

RAIPUR: Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Digvijay Singh has said employees and officers having links with the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) would not be allowed to continue in government service in the state.

Mr Singh said the RSS was not a cultural organisation as being claimed, but a political entity since its members only supported the BJP or functioned as BJP leaders. Those having links with such a political organisation had no place in government service, he said, adding that so long as there was the Congress Government in the state, the officers and employees having any connection with the RSS would not be allowed to continue in government service.

He was addressing election meetings for the February 17 byelection in the Rajim Assembly constituency in favour of Congress candidate Amitesh Shukla yesterday.

He also lashed out at the BJP for taking initiative to review the Constitution and alleged that an attempt was being made to deprive Dalits and minorities of the benefits guaranteed to them under the Constitution.

Referring to the controversy on the shooting of film “Water’’, he said the BJP-led Union Government had given approval for the shooting and now the RSS and the Vishwa Hindu Parishad were opposing it.

Clarifying his opposition to holding of the Bajrang Dal convention at Bhopal, he said the old Bhopal area had witnessed riots in 1992 and communal harmony had been restored with great difficulty. Nobody would be allowed to disturb the communal harmony by allowing the convention in Muslim-dominated old Bhopal area, he said.