A significant stir is brewing in Chittapur, home constituency of Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Minister Priyank Kharge. Following Minister Kharge’s controversial request to the Chief Minister to prohibit public activities by the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), the organization has scheduled a celebratory route march in the town this Sunday, marking its centenary year.
The situation intensified late Friday night when local municipal authorities dismantled saffron flags, banners, and buntings erected for the march. This action immediately sparked unrest in Chittapur, a town that had recently observed a complete shutdown in solidarity with Minister Kharge’s stance against the RSS and its affiliates.
In response to the municipal action, RSS supporters and workers swiftly organized protests, vocally condemning the authorities for removing their saffron decorations from key public spaces throughout Chittapur.
Mallinath Aurad, the district convener for the RSS, addressed The Hindu, clarifying that the upcoming route march was entirely unrelated to Minister Priyank Kharge’s call for a ban on RSS activities in public.
Aurad explained, “This march is an integral part of our RSS centenary celebrations and coincides with Vijaya Dashami. We adhered to all necessary procedures, including paying the ₹6,000 fee for the decorative flags and banners. Similar route marches have successfully taken place in Chincholi, Afzalpur, Aland, and Kamalapur taluks. The Chittapur and Sedam marches are simply scheduled for Sunday.”
Meanwhile, Chittapur Tahsildar Nagayya Hiremath stated that official permission for the event was still pending at the time of publication.
Hiremath elaborated, “The RSS leadership submitted their application for the route march, which I have since forwarded to the police department for their assessment regarding potential law and order implications. A definitive decision will only be made once we receive their official report.”