In an astonishing RTI application that has been forwarded by the General Administration Department (GAD) to different wings of the UT administration, information is being sought on the employees who have “links with RSS”.
The detail is also being sought on the employees who actively participate in ‘Shakhas’ of Sangh.
It is despite the fact that such information is not included in official records of any employees that GAD forwarded the application to different departments asking them about information about such employees with links to RSS.
The Central Public Information Officer of GAD, vide communication number O.M.No: GAD (Adm) RTI/31/2021, dated 19-04-2021, forwarded the application under RTI Act 2005 to different departments for necessary action within stipulated time.
As per reports, response regarding the matter by some departments including few colleges in Jammu is that not only they gathered information from their employees in a format but also took an undertaking that they have no connection with RSS.
The Higher Education Department was instructed to give required details through Google files and upload them to an account due to Covid lockdown.
RSS is an Indian right-wing Hindu nationalist volunteer organization having very close ideological and organizational links with the ruling BJP. It has established numerous schools, charities, and clubs to spread its ideological beliefs, RSS has a network of ‘Shakhas’ across the country, including Jammu Kashmir Union Territory.
Besides gathering a list of employees having links with RSS, the RTI is also looking for whether such employees have obtained due permission from the GAD and what necessary steps the J&K Government has taken against those officials who have no such permission.
