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RSS climbs down as NDA builds up pressure

In a major shift from its stand on the issue of lifting the ban on government servants joining the Rashtriya Syayamsevak Sangh, the RSS today said it had dropped the demand.

RSS chief Rajinder Singh in a statement said that his organisation had never made a ''formal or informal'' request to this effect to the government. He said it was unfortunate that some parties were trying to politicise the issue.

Singh said that the Sangh in its 75-year journey had never aspired for any government patronage.

The controversy had gained ground after the Bharatiya Janata Party governments inGujarat, Uttar Pradesh and Himachal Pradesh lifted the ban on their staff participating in RSS activities. The issue took a serious turn when some members of the ruling National Democratic Alliance expressed their reservations over the move.

Rajinder Singh said the RSS had never attempted to build its image in the media even in adverse situations. ''Should the ban be lifted or not or its timing are issues that should be left to the government,'' he said.

Meanwhile, Madhaya Pradesh Chief Minister Digvijay Singh has said state employees having links with the RSS would not be allowed to continue in service.

He said RSS is not a cultural organisation as being claimed, but a political entity because its members supported the BJP or functioned as BJP leaders. ''Those having links with such a political organisation have no place in my government,'' he said.

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