The Madhya Pradesh Congress alleged on Sunday that the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh was akin to the banned Student Islamic Movement of India. The party staged a demonstration as a part of a protest against the Madhya Pradesh government's decision to lift a ban on its employees from taking part in Sangh functions.

"RSS is a communal organisation like SIMI and is involved in dividing the society on communal grounds," state Congress president Subhash Yadav told reporters, before taking out a rally to the chief minister's residence.

The ban was imposed by the previous Digvijay Singh government in order to ensure communal harmony, and he claimed that by lifting the ban, the BJP government had opened the doors for the RSS to disturb peace in the state.

Raising slogans against the state government, the Congress leaders sought Governor Balram Jakhar's intervention in restoring the ban.

Similar protests were held at all district headquarters across the state and the agitation will intensify, if the government did not withdraw its decision, Yadav said.

Meanwhile, refuting Congress allegations, Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan claimed that RSS was a socio-cultural organisation which had motivated lakhs of people to carry out social work.

Employees have not been forced to take part in RSS' activities, he told reporters. "Those unable to digest lifting of the ban, may move court of law," the chief minister said.