Government Employees National Confederation, an association with links to the Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh (BMS) has written to the Prime Minister to amend rules that prohibit central government employees from participating in Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh (RSS) programmes, The Hindu has reported.

Sadhu Singh, Secretary General of the Confederation appealed to the PM to issue necessary amendments permitting the government employees to participate in “nation-building activities.”

The ban was imposed by the Indira Gandhi government in 1966. Though it was lifted under the rule of Janata Government it was reimposed in the year 1980.

The association asked the Modi government to emulate the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government in Gujarat under Keshubhai Patel. The state government had modified its rules which had banned government employees from associating with RSS.

Under the 1975 notification, any person who contravenes in any of the provisions of the order was punishable with imprisonment up to seven years, or with fine or both.

This notification, which was issued by the Indira Gandhi government had banned government employees from promoting or assisting RSS meetings. Secretary-General of the Government Employees National Confederation, Sadhu Singh said that RSS was a social service organisation and government employees who wanted to take part in its activities were deterred by the existing rules.