My first split second reaction was, how bad can a RSS feed be? The body in question is actually Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, and not Really Simple Syndication. There used to be a time when some headstrong individuals would go about travelling to places unknown and spread their own religion on the uneducated masses. Often they would withhold food or medicines and leave those in need with little choice but to cave in.

A government in a sovereign, secular, democratic, republic is placing a condition on its sportsperson- confirm they are not affiliated to Jammat-e-Islami or RSS or forego the awards due to them. The Rajasthan government makes the sportspersons deserving of cash prizes sign an affidavit before they hand the money over. An affidavit affirming that they are not in any way affiliated to Jammat-e-Islami or RSS.

Receiving money from the government for performance is contingent upon the athlete first confirming that they have no ties with either of the two organizations. This is not a new move by any means. The clause has been around since 1986, but it has drawn ire now. One reason is because it was suspended during the tenure of BJP, according to former sports minister Younis Khan.

“The norms are continuing since 1986 and we are towing with it. We have not introduced it,” Rajasthan Sports Minister Mangilal Garasia said. That’s one reason it is arousing commotion now. Another reason is that it has been an increase in the amount being awarded since 2011-2012. Sportspersons winning gold at a state-level championship now get Rs 1 lakh (instead of Rs 10,000 earlier), a national-level champion gets Rs 2.5 lakh (instead of Rs 25,000) and an international-level champion gets Rs 5 lakh (instead of Rs 50,000) from the Rajasthan government.

Both bodies have condemned this action by the Rajasthan government. The head of Rajasthan Jamaat-e-Islami, Er Khursheed Hussain has said, “It is an illegal move of Rajasthan government, and unnecessary harassment.” The spokesperson of RSS, Ram Mahadev has also voiced concerns saying, “Rajasthan govt asking for affidavit of no RSS connection for sports awards is illegal. Officials responsible for the order should be sacked.”

The athletes are none too pleased about this either. “They made me sign an affidavit that said that I didn’t have any connections with the RSS or Jamaat-e-Islami. They said that if I didn’t, I wouldn’t get the money,” wrestler Vishal Singh said.

The issue here is not whether the two organizations may be so tainted that no athlete ought to have an association with them. That issue should not even arise as long as the two organizations have not been accused and proved of illegal activities. The issue is one of free will being violated. The only criteria for being deserving of the awards in question ought to be merit on the field. The government in imposing its own will is stifling that of the athletes.

Kailash Nath Bhatt, BJP spokesman for state said, “RSS is not a terrorist organisation, but is devoted to the service of the nation. Had the affidavit been restricted to communal organisation, it would have been ok, but associating it with RSS is a wrong move which will not be digested. We demand immediate withdrawal of it.”

If the organizations have been proven to be illegal, then they ought to have been branded such without a shadow of doubt. Since that hasn’t happened we ought to give them the benefit of doubt and not rush to a judgment. If the government truly believes that the two organizations are not to be affiliated with, there are other and better ways to ensure that the citizens avoid them. One of the worst ways to ensure that is by withholding something someone truly deserves. This could be said to amount to coercion.

In opposition to this move, the members of the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad, student wing of the Opposition Bharatiya Janata Party, had staged a demonstration at the SMS Stadium during the award distribution ceremony and engaged in a scuffle with policemen who tried to stop them. The activists alleged that the ruling Congress insulted the players and undermined their contribution.

JIH State Unit President Khurshid Hussain said, “Depriving a person of the right to become member of a lawful organisation amounts to infringement of his rights as a citizen. Denying an incentive to a sportsperson because of his membership of the JIH is highly objectionable. We will look at the legal option of challenging the rule.”

Sports ought to be independent of politics. You cannot push your beliefs down someone’s throat with the threat of denying what’s due to them.

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