RSS not banned body; CM intimidating Vice-Chancellors, claims V Muraleedharan

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Launching a sharp attack on the current administration and its political stances, senior BJP leader and MLA V. Muraleedharan stated that the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) is not a banned organisation in the country, and questioned the state's position against University Vice-Chancellors attending its events.

Demanding clarity on the matter, Muraleedharan challenged the leadership to specify which university regulation prohibits Vice-Chancellors from participating in RSS-led functions. He added that if such a rule indeed exists, the government should show the resolve to initiate formal legal action rather than resorting to public intimidation to deter others from attending in the future.

The legislator pointed out that numerous Vice-Chancellors across the nation have participated in events marking the centenary of the RSS. "One must not forget that the Prime Minister of the country is an RSS worker. Will the state leadership avoid meeting the Prime Minister on account of this?" Muraleedharan asked.

The BJP leader further alleged that the statements from the Chief Minister and the Leader of the Opposition were aimed at appeasing minority outfits like Jamaat-e-Islami and the Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI). He pointed out that the Chief Minister himself had previously claimed Jamaat-e-Islami had abandoned its theological state ideology, while the Leader of the Opposition had gone out of his way to meet the Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer.
Muraleedharan also reminded both political fronts that the Central Government had in 2024 lifted a decades-old restriction, originally imposed by a previous Congress administration, that barred government employees from participating in RSS activities.
Describing the RSS as a movement deeply connected to the cultural fabric of India, Muraleedharan concluded that any attempts to create misconceptions about the organisation would prove futile. He added a scathing remark targeted at the Left, suggesting it would be wise to reflect on the current political standing of the Communist Party, which had commenced its political journey in India around the same time as the RSS.