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Govt employees with RSS links will be dismissed: Virbhadra

CM's statement `undemocratic and dictatorial', says BJP

Shimla: Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh has warned that any State Government employee having links with the RSS will be dismissed from service.

Speaking to reporters in Solan district on Wednesday, Mr. Singh cautioned the Government employees against participating in activities of the RSS.

``Government employees will not be allowed to take part in RSS activities. If any employee does so, he will be dismissed,'' Mr. Singh said.

Mr. Singh's remarks came in response to a question regarding the suspension of a Government Ayurvedic practitioner posted in Chamba for his reported links to the RSS.

``He was working for the RSS. That is why he has been placed under suspension,'' he said.

Mr. Singh's statement evoked a sharp reaction from opposition BJP which termed it as ``undemocratic and dictatorial''.

In a statement issued here, party spokesman Randhir Sharma said the RSS was a ``nationalist social organisation which works for inculcating moral values, honesty, dedication and selfless service.''

He said that it appeared that the Chief Minsiter had ``no faith in democratic values and was trying to infringe upon the right to views and expression which was violation of the Constitution''.

The BJP leader said Mr.Singh was trying to ``browbeat the honest and dedicated employees and asked him to quote the article of the Constitution under which Government employees could not have links with RSS''.

Mr. Sharma dared the Chief Minister to take action against such employees and said that if the need arose, the BJP would not hesitate to launch an agitation on the issue. PTI/UNI

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