[world-vedic] RSS is victim of British and Secularism

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>OFBJP <OFBJP

>OFBJP Editor <Editor

>Ban or not, we're here to stay: RSS

>Sun, 13 Feb 2000 19:07:07 -0500 (EST)

>

>----

>

>

>Title: Ban or not, we're here to stay: RSS

>Publication: The Times of India

>February 14, 2000

>

> The ban on the RSS, which was was started by

> the British, continued even after

> Independence because of the ``pseudo

> secularism'' propagated by successive

> governments

 

> NEW DELHI: The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh

> (RSS), under attack from the opposition as

>

> well as the ruling NDA partners in the wake

> of several BJP-ruled states lifting the ban

> on government employees participating in its

> activities, said ``it is up to the

> government to decide whether to lift the ban

> and it is not seeking any revocation''.

>

> The controversy erupted after the BJP

> governments in Gujarat, UP and Himachal

> Pradesh lifted the ban on their staff

> participating in RSS activities.

>

> ``Whether the ban is to be lifted or not and

> when to lift it would depend on the judgment

> of the government. It should be remembered

> that we have not sought lifting of the

> ban,'' RSS chief Rajendra Singh said in the

> Sangh's mouthpiece Panchjanya.

>

> Describing the controversy as ``unfortunate

> and not in the interest of the country'',

> Singh said the RSS stand on the issue was

> vindicated by several court verdicts against

> the ban. ``It is unfortunate that some

> political parties are trying to politicise

> the issue,'' he said.

>

> Clarifying his reported statement in this

> regard on Friday, Singh said at the function

> organised by Panchjanya he had given the

> example of Britain where all government

> employees except those in the judiciary and

> the police were free to participate in the

> activities of not only socio-cultural

> organisations like the RSS but also

> political parties.

>

> The British example had been cited in

> support of his point of view and it was not

> his intention ``to canvas for its

> implementation in India,'' he added.

>

> Recalling his conversation with newsmen at

> the function, Singh said he was of the view

> that ``a ban on participation of government

> servants in any organisation was bad''.

>

> In its 75 year history, he said, the RSS had

> ``never taken any government or political

> patronage and grew despite opposition from

> the government''.

>

> The ban on the RSS, which was was started by

> the British, continued even after

> Independence because of the ``pseudo

> secularism'' propagated by successive

> governments, the RSS chief said.

>

> The RSS had braved several governments since

> Independence and ``its growth was mainly due

> to the inherent strength of Hindutva,''

> Singh pointed out.

>

> He said the RSS had never attempted to build

> its image in the media even in adverse

> situations.

>

 

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