Sportsmen sign 'no links with RSS' affidavit in Rajasthan

The Rajasthan government has triggered a controversy as it directed sportsperson to give affidavits where they have stated that they have no associations with the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) or Islamic organization Jamaat-e-Islami Hind, in order to qualify for the state government's sports awards, reports said on Saturday.  A news channel on Saturday reported that only the sportspersons who have signed an affidavit saying they don’t have any links with RSS or Jamaat-e-Islami are being given state government awards. The RSS has strongly objected to the Gehlot government’s move saying that the Congress is playing vendetta politics. Members of ABVP, youth wing of BJP, yesterday protested at an awards function organised by the RSSC against the sportspersons being made to give the affidavits.
Speaking on the matter, Rajasthan sports minister Mangilal Garasiya said the government is only implementing the rule which has been there since 1986. RSS spokesperson Ram Madhav crticised the move and called it an 'illegal order'. He said: "We are also contemplating legal action against the sports council. Sports council is an autonomous body. It has no binding to follow illegal diktat of the government."