Chhattisgarh government officials can attend RSS meetings after a controversial order

The ruling BJP in Chhattisgarh has allowed government employees to join its ideological mentor, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and participate in its activities, in a controversial order that the opposition has called "harmful to democracy."



A state rule for government staff prohibits them from participating in politics. "No government servant shall be member of, or be otherwise associated with, any political party or any organisation 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," it says.



But an order issued last week makes an exception for the RSS, which has often described itself as a social organization but is known to advise the BJP politically.



The new order, with the subject line "...regarding participation of government servants in activities of RSS," said the "restriction does not apply to RSS."





The ban on government officials participating in political activities was enforced long before Chhattisgarh was carved out of undivided Madhya Pradesh in 2000. In Madhya Pradesh, also ruled by BJP, the restriction was lifted a few years back.

The Congress in Chhattisgarh has accused the Raman Singh government of trying to politicize the administration and "indoctrinate" the bureaucracy."The move will dilute the difference between government and a political party. RSS has been claiming to be a social-service apolitical outfit but everyone is well aware of the fact that they are running the BJP from the backdoor. This will harm the democratic process," TS Singhdeo, the Leader of Opposition in the state assembly, was quoted as telling the Press Trust of India.