Its role in shaping BJP, its political progeny, can easily be discerned from the writings and actions of RSS. One recalls that it was Shyama Prasad Mukherjee of Hindu Mahasabha, who collaborated with RSS to float the previous avatar of BJP, Bhartiya Jansangh. The then RSS chief M.S. Golwalkar, (Guruji) regarded as the major ideologue of RSS; time and again outlined the role of RSS trained swayamsaevaks and Pracharaks, while being in Jana Sangh or BJP.

Golwalkar writes “For instance some of our friends were told to go and work for politics that does not mean that they have great interest or inspiration for it. They don’t die for politics like fish without water. If they are told to withdraw from politics, then also there is no objection. Their discretion is just not required.” (Golwalkar, MS, Shri Guruji Samagar Darshan (collected works of Golwalkar in Hindi, Bhartiya Vichar Sadhna, Nagpur, volume. 3, p. 33) tells us clearly that Jansangh or BJP was supposed to follow the instructions of RSS.

Further Guruji says, “We know this also that some of our swayamsevaks [cadres] work in politics. There they have to organize according to the needs of work: public meetings, processions etc., have to raise slogans. (Same as above Vol 4, page 4-5)

RSS nurtured and trained its swayamsevaks on these lines and later floated many organizations. Nathuram Godse the killer of Mahatma Gandhi was also a trained pracharak of RSS. RSS at that time did not keep any records of membership so it could wash its hands off from this murder. Nathuram Godse’s family believes that the assassin, a staunch member of the RSS was neither expelled from the Sangh nor did he ever leave the organization.

Shamsul Islam, eminent scholar of Hindu Nationalism, points out, “The central publication house of the RSS, the Suruchi Prakashan, Jhandewalan, New Delhi, published, Param Vaibhav Ke Path Par (1997) which gave details of more than 40 organizations created by the RSS for different tasks. The BJP as a political organisation figures prominently in it at number 3, with the ABVP, Hindu Jagaran Manch, Vishva Hindu Parishad, Swadeshi Jagaran Manch and Sanskar Bharti etc.)

Similarly the prayer and pledge of RSS make it clear that they make its followers commit to Hindu nation. Its Prathana (Prayer) says “You/O God almighty, we the integral part of the Hindu Rashtra salute you in reverence/For Your cause have we girded up our loins/Give us Your Blessings for its accomplishment.”  (RSS, Shakha Darshika, Gyan Ganga, Jaipur, 1997, p.1) The pledge is also equally forthright in this “I become a member of the RSS in order to achieve all round greatness of Bharatvarsha by fostering the growth of my sacred Hindu religion, Hindu society, and Hindu culture. (Page 66 above)

The masquerading of RSS as a cultural organization does help it to expand by appealing to the emotions of many. Major leaders of the freedom struggle were very clear about the nature of RSS. “A member of Gandhi’s entourage had praised the efficiency, discipline, courage and capacity for hard work shown by RSS cadres at Wagah, a major transit camp for Punjab refugees. Gandhi quipped back, ‘but don’t forget, even so had Hitler’s Nazis and Fascists under Mussolini’, Gandhi characterized RSS as a communal body with a totalitarian outlook’ (Pyarelal, Mahatma Gandhi: The Last Phase, Ahmedabad, page 440)

Nehru did regard RSS as having traits of fascism. Dr. Rajendra Prasad, the first President of India, had stated that “The RSS is strictly secret as regards its organization. It has consequently developed along fascist lines and is definitely a potential menace to public peace. (Dr. Rajendra Prasad to Sardar Vallabh Bhai Patel, 12 December 1948)

Sardar Patel  wrote “As regards the RSS and the Hindu Mahasabha, the case relating to Gandhiji’s murder… about the participation of the two organizations, but our reports do confirm that, as a result of the activities of these two bodies, particularly the former, an atmosphere was created in the country in which such a ghastly tragedy became possible… The activities of the RSS constituted a clear threat to the existence of the Government and the State. Our reports show that those activities, despite the ban, have not died down. Indeed, as time has marched on, the RSS circles are becoming more defiant and are indulging in their subversive activities in an increasing measure. ” [Letter 64 cited in Sardar Patel: Select Correspondence19450-1950, vol. 2, Navjivan Publishing House, Ahmedabad, 1977, pp. 276-277.]

We also recall that RSS has been banned thrice, and wriggled out of those bans by wearing the façade of Culture. As we know the ban on Government servants taking part in politics is to ensure that our bureaucracy remains committed to the values of the constitution and not be politically partisan. This ban on Government servants participating in RSS activities has been there for over 50 years. It is the third time that this was done.

In between Janata Party and Atal Bihari Vajpayee were also at the helm of political affairs but this ban was not lifted. Mr. Modi has been in power for the last 10+ years. Why is he taking this decision now? Is it after RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat has been making oblique criticism of the supreme leader? There is a need for cultural activists and social scientists to assess the contribution of RSS to Indian culture. This mask of RSS being a cultural organization needs to be undone and its political agenda grasped for protection of Indian Constitution and democracy. As such it seems that it is a Supra-political outfit.

Disclaimer: The views expressed here are the author’s personal views, and do not necessarily represent the views of Sabrangindia.

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As widely reported in the media, the Department of Personnel (directly under the PMO), vide F.no. 1-28047/8/2023 dated 17-10-2023 seemed to have instructed all Ministries to nominate senior officers as “District Rath Praharis” under their purview to “showcase/celebrate achievements of the NDA government during the last nine years through “Viksit Bharat Sankalp Yatra” from November 20, 2023 to January 25, 2024″, overlapping with the schedule of the upcoming state assembly elections (in five states).

Sarma states in his letter that he “understands that several Ministries have issued instructions based on it. For example, CBDT issued a communication on October 18, 2023 based on the above-referred letter.” Besides, tThere have been reports on the Defence Ministry also issuing instructions to its officers.

It is a matter of serious concern, states the former bureaucrat, that officers of the Defence Forces should be mis-deployed for showcasing the NDA government’s achievements. Not only that since it amounts to a direct politicization of the Armed Forces, “it may not be appropriate in the long run.”

“To the best of my knowledge, the above instructions were issued when the Model Code of Conduct had already come into force and, as such, they amount to its brazen infringement, as they place the NDA government at an advantage vis-a-vis the political parties in opposition, amounting to misuse of government machinery for activity that will influence elections.

“I therefore request you to direct the Central government to revoke the above instructions forthwith and also impose a deterrent penalty on the parties involved in such an MCC violation.”

On October 21, by mid-day, as reported by The Wire, former IAS officer M.G. Devasahayam also wrote to the Election Commission endorsing Sarma’s letter. The Election Commission is yet to react to these letters. Former cabinet secretary B.K. Chaturvedi told The Wire, “This is unprecedented. I have not seen any such thing in my entire civil service career. It will be seen as politicisation of civil and defence services. The government has publicity departments whose job it is to publicise its work. Using senior civil servants and defence personnel in special campaigns is improper in the context of impending elections in the states to be followed by the 2024 Lok Sabha polls.”

Former member of the Planning Commission N.C. Saxena also said, “[I’ve] never seen such a publicity programme involving civil servants. It is blurring the line between civil service and politics. On the one hand all data systems which assess performance, like NSSO and NFHS, are being undermined as seen in the recent resignation of the head of NFHS. On the other such programmes are being created to publicise government performance.”

Reacting to the October 17 circular, Congress spokespersons like Jairam Ramesh and Pawan Khera took to X (formerly Twitter) on October 21 to question the Modi government’s action. A day later, party president Mallikarjun Kharge wrote to the prime minister “on the blatant politicisation taking place of civil servants and soldiers who must at all times be kept independent and non-political”.

How can civil servants be ordered to do political propaganda for a government going into elections?
IAS officers will be ‘Rath Prabharis.’ @IASassociation pic.twitter.com/tgVukmU8SK

— Pawan Khera (@Pawankhera) October 21, 2023

This is Narendra’s Another Megalomaniac Order https://t.co/XHFxCzhzJh

— Jairam Ramesh (@Jairam_Ramesh) October 21, 2023

“It is a clear violation of the Central Civil Services (Conduct) Rules, 1964, which directs that no government servant shall take part in any political activity. While it is acceptable for government officers to disseminate information, to make them “celebrate” and “showcase” achievements blatantly turns them into political workers of the ruling party,” Kharge wrote in his letter. He added that soldiers becoming “marketing agents for government schemes” would count as a “dangerous step towards [the] politicisation of the armed forces”.

For the Modi Govt, all agencies, institutions, arms, wings, and departments of the government are now officially ‘Pracharaks’ !

In view of protecting our democracy and our Constitution, it is imperative that the orders which would lead to the politicising of Bureaucracy and our… pic.twitter.com/t9hq0N4Ro4

— Mallikarjun Kharge (@kharge) October 22, 2023

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“There is nothing wrong in attending the event. It was a public event attended by thousands of people. There is no ban on public officials attending such an event. Several senior dignitaries attended it. Elections are coming in the state and a controversy has erupted because of that,” Satna district collector Anurag Verma said.

Both the opposition Congress and ruling BJP in the state have been embroiled in a war of words ever since a picture surfaced showing Verma and Satna Municipal Corporation Commissioner Rajesh Shahi participating in a prayer during an RSS event on June 11. Asked about the photo showing him doing the RSS salute, Verma said, “I am a Hindu. When I go to the temple, I bow to the gods. If I go to a mosque or a church, I follow their rituals.”

Shahi, the second government official, did not respond to calls from the media and messages seeking a comment. The Congress has demanded that such officials be kept away from preparations of the MP Assembly polls scheduled for year-end, while the BJP has said this shows the Congress’s “hatred” for the RSS. The Congress has also stated they will make a complaint to the Centre’s Department of Personnel and Training.

It was the Madhya Pradesh State Congress media department chairman K K Mishra, who tweeted the picture of the two officials, said, “This behaviour is not expected from civil servants. It can’t be expected that such officials will perform their duty without bias in the assembly polls.” Congress Rajya Sabha member Vivek Tankha demanded that the Election Commission of India keep such leaders away from poll preparation.

In response, BJP spokesperson Pankaj Chaturvedi said, “There is no ban on civil servants participating in RSS events. There is nothing illegal in doing that. The RSS is a cultural organisation, it works for the society. The RSS works under constitutional arrangements, it’s a democratic, social and cultural organisation.”

In 2018, the Congress had in its election manifesto promised to prohibit government employees from taking part in activities of the RSS and to disallow activities of RSS shakhas on government premises. A restriction on participating in RSS shakhas was first imposed by the Congress in Madhya Pradesh way back in 1981 and revived in 2000 when Digvijaya Singh was chief minister. The order warned employees of disciplinary action under MP Civil Service (classification, control and appeal) Rules of 1966 if they were found attending RSS shakhas or the organisation’s activities.

In September 2006, when he first claimed power, Chief Minister, Shivraj Singh Chauhan lifted the restriction, saying the RSS is a “socio-cultural organisation and not a political entity”. Justifying the decision, Chouhan had said, “The ban was imposed out of prejudice.”

Section 5 (1) of MP Civil Services (Conduct) Rules prevents employees from becoming a member of a political party or organisation which takes part in political activities. They are not allowed to take part in political agitations or raise funds for such agitations.

Gujarat 2000

In year 2000, unsurpisingly, it was the Keshubhai Patel-led Gujarat government that had lifted the ban on public/government servants who belonged to the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh. At the time, in the February 2000 issue of Communalism Combat,  eminent jurist, Atul Motilal Setalvad had written,

“Government servants in India cannot be allowed to belong to a political party committed to values that are the very opposite of parliamentary democracy and secularism

“The recent decision of the government of Gujarat to lift the long–standing ban on government servants being members of the RSS has aroused much controversy. Many, already distressed by the policies of the state government of encouraging extremist Hindu parties, have seen it as yet another instance of a fanatical fascist group using its power to destroy the secular basis of our country. Others see nothing wrong in the decision; why not let civil servants belong to a party, they say, particularly as several ministers belong to, or are sympathetic to that very party?

“A dispassionate discussion of this issue is called for. The issues involve a consideration of our Constitution, and the basic underlying principles of our parliamentary democracy.

“Our Constitution declares that India is to be a secular republic. The Supreme Court has held that secularism is a basic feature of the Constitution which cannot be amended. What secularism means has been the discussed by the Supreme Court in the famous Bommai Case, when a large bench of the Supreme Court upheld the dismissal of several BJP–controlled state governments after the demolition of the Babri Masjid. Some observations in the judgements delivered in that case deserve to be quoted:

“Under our Constitution … religion cannot be mixed with any secular activities of the state. In fact, the encroachment of religion into secular activities is strictly prohibited.”

“In matters of State, religion has no place.”

“The Constitution does not recognise, does not permit, mixing religion and state power. Both must be kept apart.”

“The Constitution contains fundamental rights which include the right to freedom of speech and the right to freedom of association. These rights are not absolute, and can be curtailed in appropriate cases in the interests of public order or the integrity of India. The Constitution also contains Article 25 which confers on all citizens the right to profess, practice and propagate the religion of their choice, and it is settled law that whilst conversions from one religion to another by threats or inducement can be prohibited, voluntary conversions cannot be restricted….

…..

“The position in England is instructive. Civil servants generally cannot belong to organisations which are committed to overthrow or undermine parliamentary democracy. Even as far as ordinary and democratic parties are concerned, a civil servant cannot publicly support any political party or its policies.

“As we also are a parliamentary democracy, the principles followed in England are instructive. We also have to constantly bear in mind the basic principles of our Constitution and the fundamental duties imposed on all citizens. Obviously, government servants must discharge the same duties, and the obligation on them to do so is greater, as they occupy a pivotal position in the State.

“For any state government to allow government servants to belong to the RSS or, indeed, to any communal or secessionist organisation, would be wrong. The ban has been in force for many years. For a government run by the BJP, which has close links with the RSS, to revoke the ban is doubly wrong. It is favouring its own party, and jeopardising the impartiality and independence of the civil service. It is sending a message to the whole State, and in particular, to the citizens belonging to the minorities, that the whole State government will be run as the RSS wants.”

Haryana lifted the ban in 2021.

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