NEW DELHI. Mar 2: India's Hindu nationalists are facing mounting pressure from their ruling coalition allies and the opposition over the lifting of a ban on stale employees Joining a powerful right-wing Hindu group, reports AFP.

Prime Minister Atal Beharl Vajpayee's Hindu nationalist BJP party was caught In the eye of a storm today over Its at-lempls lo hush up the controversy. which has virtually paralysed parliament since it opened for the budget session last week.

The furorc arose after the lo cal BJP government in the western Indian state of Gujarat issued a directive permitting civil servants to join the RSS, or National Volunteer Corps, a Hindu lundamenlallst organi-

sation closely linked to the BJP

An Incensed opposition which perceives the RSS as a sectarian outfit, has clamoured without success for a parliamentary debate on the Gujarat government's decision.

The lower house of parliament was adjourned yet again today, following a dally trend since the budget session began last week.

Th«- government has made il crystal clear that we arc not allowing Its employees lo take part in RSS activity and that (New Delhi) has no role to play in the Gujarat government's decision Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pramod Mahajan told ihe house In a vain attempt to quell opposition protests.

Vajpayee has come under

pressure from five regional al lies who have warned that If the issue were put to the vote in parliament, they would find it almost impossible lo back the government.

Another thorn in the gov emmenfs flesh Is a bill mooted by the BJP government of the northern state of Uttar Pradesh, requiring official permission to construct religious buildings.

The bill is widely seen to be an attempt lo undermine the freedom of Muslims, India's largest religious minority.

Syed Ahmed Bukhari, deputy priest of India's best known mosque -- the Jama Masjid In New Delhi said thousands of Muslims would lake part in a protest In the capital on Friday to denounce

the proposed legislation.

The main opposition Congress party, meanwhile, believes it has Vajpayee and the B.JP cornered on the Gujarat legislation.

"If It Is pul to the lest, all secular parties Including the partners In the ruling coalition, will either vote against (he government or abstain," Congress leader Glrila Vyas told AFP.

We will fight the batlie In the streets and in parliament. We are organising a big protest march in New Delhi on Sunday. As far as parliament is concerned. wc may go in lor a boycott but that will hr a last re-

Political analyst Mahesh Rangarajan said the contro versy was building into a dan-

gerous threat to the government's stability.

"Its consequences In the medium term could be very serious as il marks Ihe beginning of a wedge between the BJP and its allies." he said.

Rangarajan said the problem assumed greater significance since the BJP fared poorly in last month's stale elections, which were demi-nated by regional parties. Including allies of the central coalition.

'The allies have won leading position In their home states. It Is fairly clear they want to maintain their distinctive identities and secular credentials. They also know that the RSS can undercut their own power on home turf."