Congress govt restores security at RSS office in Bhopal after criticism

Politics on the boil in MP as security removed from RSS office in Bhopal RSS office Samidha in Bhopal

Controversy erupted in Madhya Pradesh after the Congress government in the state briefly withdrew security from Samidha—the Bhopal-based office of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) late on Monday night. On Tuesday night, the security for the RSS office was restored following an order of Chief Minister Kamal Nath. As the controversy deepened, Nath ordered restoration of security, saying his party might have ideological differences with the RSS, but he was not in favour of withdrawal of security from its office.


While the BJP leaders including former chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, leader of opposition Gopal Bhargava and veteran leader Babulal Gaur strongly criticised the move to pull security, the Congress candidate from Bhopal and former chief minister Digvijaya Singh called the move ‘improper’.

The RSS took a stoic stand, with the madhyabharat prant prachar pramukh (central region publicity chief) Narendra Jain saying neither did the RSS ever demand any security for its Bhopal office, nor had it asked for its removal. “It is a government decision and we have nothing to say about it,” Jain said in a media statement.

Late night manoeuvre

In a sudden move, the Special Armed Forces (SAF) deployed in front of Samidha was packed off at around 11.00pm on Monday night. The temporary SAF guard was posted at Samidha during the tenure of Uma Bharti as chief minister in year 2003 and continued ever since.

After the backlash, the state Home Minister Bala Bachchan said that the Election Commission has asked for adequate forces for the upcoming Lok Sabha polls. During the review, it came to notice that security had been given at certain places without due approval. “Decision has been taken to recall security from all such places and that includes the Bhopal RSS office.”

Who said what?

“This is unfortunate as Sangh never asked for any security. Our government provided security as we perceived threat to the office from some terrorist organizations. The Congress has removed the security on flimsy ground that forces are needed for election. Would security of all leaders be revoked then? This reeks of small mentality and malice. I expect the government not to compromise on security of any individual or organization.” —Shivraj Singh Chouhan, former chief of Madhya Pradesh

“Removing the security from RSS office is a condemnable step by CM Kamal Nath. The Congress might be again planning some attack. If any RSS volunteer gets even a scratch, we would demolish this government,”—Gopal Bhargava, leader of opposition (In a Hindi tweet).

“Sangh had not demanded any security. If the Congress government had to remove security for election reason, it should have removed security of its ministers too. I thank Digvijaya Singh for his support, he is an intelligent man. But Sangh is the biggest anti-Pakistan organisation while Congress is a anti-Hindu party, be it Rahul Gandhi or Digvijaya Singh.” —Babulal Gaur, former chief minister and BJP leader.