The Polit Bureau of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) has issued the following statement on September 4. THE detailed reports of their work being given by union government ministers to RSS leaders at their joint meeting in the capital is an affront to Indian democracy. It clearly shows that the RSS is not merely the remote control but is in the direct control of this BJP government which acts as the RSS’s political arm. The RSS has openly declared that its agenda is the establishment of its ideological project - `Hindu Rashtra’. This objective is against the fundamental tenets of the secular democratic Indian Constitution. This current exercise being undertaken by the ministers violates the Constitutional oath of office and secrecy that they have sworn to uphold. As it is, the basic principles of secularism are being threatened by the RSS and its Hindutva front organisations on a daily basis. Many of those attending this meeting continue to make communally inflammatory speeches. Instead of curbing these elements, the prime minister and the central government is patronising and is legitimising such efforts. The CPI(M) strongly condemns and opposes this blatant violation of constitutional norms.