India has recently revoked a long-standing ban on civil servants being members of a far-right Hindu nationalist group, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), which is closely linked to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). The RSS advocates for India to be a Hindu nation, going against the country’s secular constitution.
After decades of prohibition, a government memo revealed that civil servants are now allowed to join the RSS. This move has sparked controversy, with critics accusing the organization of sowing division in society.
The decision to lift the ban on RSS membership has been met with criticism from opposition leaders like Jairam Ramesh of the Congress party. He remarked that civil servants can now “come in knickers,” alluding to the RSS’s distinctive uniform.
Despite legal challenges in the past, including being banned three times following the assassination of Mahatma Gandhi by a former member, the RSS continues to hold significant influence in Indian politics.
The recent change in regulations surrounding civil servant participation in the RSS reflects the ongoing debate over the organization’s role in Indian society. It remains to be seen how this decision will impact governance and communal relations in the country.