NEW DELHI: As death toll reached 1000-mark in the wave of violence rocking the country particularly the Congress-ruled states a desperate Narasimha Rao Government banned the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh and four other organizations describing them as communal and for “promoting disharmony between different religious communities”

Apart from the RSS the organizations banned under the Unlawful Prevention Activities Act 1967 were the Vishwa Hindu Parishad Bajrang Dal Jamait-e-Islami and the Islamic Seva Singh.

The Government announced its decision late in the night after dithering for four days. This is the third time that the ban has been imposed on the RSS. First time it was banned in 1948 and then in 1975. It currently has 35000 shakhas and about 25 lakh members.

The ban on the RSS and its allied organizations close on the heels of the arrest of L.K.Advani and Dr.Murli Manohar leave no doubt that the Center will soon act against three-BJP ruled governments of Viadhya Pradesh Rajasthan and Jimachal Pradesh. Indications available in the North Block are that the Center will apply pressure on BJP governments to arrest leaders of the RSS-VHP-Bajrang Dal combine knowing full well that there would be resistance. The Center would use the resistance as an excuse to dismiss BJP governments.

With Thursday’s decision the Center has accelerated the process of polarization between non-BJP parties and the BJP.

The decision to ban organizations is certain to expose the Government to the charge of utter failure to politically tackle the challenge of the organizations whom it has dubbed as communal.

The ban notification which came three days after the announcement of the plan would result in de-activation of the ranks and the leaders of these five organizations. While it has not been officially clarified what steps would be taken in pursuance of the notification it was Clear that there would be a Swoop on important functionaries and raids on their premises.

The notification issued by the Union Home Ministry says that the three organizations the RSS the VHP and the Bajrang Dal have been declared unlawful for “promoting disharmony or feelings of enmity hatred or ill will between different religious communities” and for “participating in the demolition of the structure in Ayodhya on Dec.6.”

The ground for banning the Islamic Seva Sangn is also “promoting disharmony or feelings of enmity hatred or ill will between different religious communities according to the notification.

The Jamiat-e-Islami-e-Hind has been banned by the Government “for preaching session” under the Act.

According to the official spokesman the state governments would be notified as under the Act the Government delegates the powers in the states to act.

The Act says that when an organization is declared unlawful by a notification “the Central Government shall within 30 days from the date of the publication of the notification refer the notification to the Tribunal for the purpose for adjudicating whether or not there is sufficient cause for declaring the association unlawful.”

After the declaration is confirmed by the Tribunal the order shall remain in force for a period of two years from the date on which the notification becomes effective and the Central may cancel the notification Government at any time.

The Central Government has the power under the Act to seize bank balances properties and other assets and subsequently confiscate them.

Meanwhile the BJP VHP and RSS on Thursday night criticized the Centers decision to ban three organizations of Sangh Parivar saying it would aggravate the worsening communal situation in the country.

The BJP vice president K.L.Sharma said the decision would “far from solving the problem further complicate the matters”

Prof. Rajendrea Singh general secretary of RSS termed the ban as “an absolutely wrong decision” “We will oppose it tooth and nail by legitimate means” he said.

The Congress (I) welcomed the banning of five communal organizations.

“The Congress (I) has demanded the ban on these communal organizations and we are happy the government has done it” party spokesman V.N.Gadgil said.

Article extracted from this publication >> December 30, 1992