A 58-year-old rule that forbade government officials from endorsing the RSS has been repealed by the Indian government. Under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, a 1966 policy is being reversed by this decision.
The initial prohibition was intended to stop public servants from endorsing the RSS, which was charged of limiting Muslim holidays and harming the feelings of minority groups. Now that the ban has been lifted, worries about the politicization of government institutions and possible rise in religious intolerance are growing.
Leaders of the opposition have denounced the action, calling it regrettable and charging the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of furthering its own ideological agenda. They contend that minorities, especially Muslims, may become even more marginalized as a result of this decision.
With the restriction lifted, public support for the RSS, an organisation strongly aligned with the philosophy of the ruling BJP, is once again possible for government officials. Opponents fear that this would make it more difficult to distinguish between political and governmental entities.
