BJP attacks Congress for promise to ban RSS branches in govt offices

BHOPAL: The Congress 'vachan patra' (manifesto) assuring ban on Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) sessions (shakhas) in government offices has stirred a political storm in the poll bound Madhya Pradesh, with BJP leaders reacting sharply over the main opposition's political commitment. BJP national spokesperson Sambit Patra said that Congress has only one motto, not to construct Ram temple and not to allow RSS sessions.

"It seems that Congress these days has one only motto, Mandir nahi banne denge, Shakha nahi chalne denge' (not to construct Ram temple and not to allow run RSS sessions). The party is trying to impose emergency in the state. Congress should apologise for such remarks", said Patra, reacting to Congress manifesto here on Sunday.

The Congress leaders had assured that if voted to power in Madhya Pradesh, the party will not allow the RSS to conduct their (shakha) sessions in government buildings. The party also promised to revoke the orders allowing government employees to attend RSS shakha sessions.

After the release of manifesto, Congress leader Digvijaya Singh said that all government employees must remember what the Congress has assured in its 'vachan patra'. If voted to power none of the government employees will be allowed to attend RSS sessions. The controversy also evoked a war of words on social media.

In 1981, the Congress had imposed a similar ban and revived it in 2000 when Digvijaya Singh was chief minister. The ban continued till BJP came to power under the leadership of Uma Bharti and Babulal Gaur, who did not revoke the ban. Later, in September 2006, party's third chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, who took over the reigns in November 2005, revoked the ban while describing the RSS as a socio-cultural organisation and not a political entity.

Attacking Congress on politicising the issue ahead of assembly polls in Madhya Pradesh, Patra said that it was Congress who had dubbed Maoists as revolutionaries and linked RSS to the Muslim Brotherhood. Now they are against Ram temple and RSS sessions too. He said only BJP favoured the construction of Ram temple and will fulfil the promise through constitutional process.

"Only BJP is in the favour of Ram temple construction. Other parties play politics. Congress leader Digvijaya Singh also dubbed the place of Ram Janmabhoomi as a 'disputed site' and used foul language to instigate sentiments. He mourns the killing of dreaded terrorist Osama and used honorifics 'ji' for him. But, it was RSS who helped people of Kerala during severe flood", said Patra.

Patra was joined by BJP state president Rakesh Singh, union minister Narendra Singh Tomar and Rajya Sabha member Prabhat Jha who condemned Congress for assuring ban on RSS sessions in government offices. Reacting to Congress manifesto Rakesh Singh dared the Congress to impose ban on RSS. He said Congress always supported decisive forces whether it was JNU issue or to put ban on the RSS. Every time Congress failed to impose ban.

Joining the verbal spat, senior Congress leader and former union minister P Chidambaram, who was campaigning in Malwa region on Sunday, defended the party's manifesto for the upcoming assembly elections promising to restrict RSS shakhas in government offices in the state.

"RSS is a political organisation. If Congress party in MP in their manifesto has said that it will put an end to this practice, I see nothing wrong with that. Governments servants as long as they are working in government shouldn't openly associate with a political party,'' Chidambaram said.

Meanwhile, the Congress state president Kamal Nath the manifesto does not assure ban on RSS but on the participation of government employees in RSS session. He said that BJP has picked up some lines from the Congress manifesto and raked up a controversy over ban of RSS but it was a political drama the party is trying to play ahead of elections.

"BJP in the name of ban of RSS, is trying to instigate certain sentiments. Congress manifesto did not mention any such ban but on the participation of government employees who waste their time in the RSS shakhas instead of contributing to public welfare", clarified Nath in the statement.