Karnataka’s Minister for IT and BT, Rural Development, and Panchayat Raj, Priyank Kharge, has formally requested Chief Minister Siddaramaiah to prohibit all activities of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) within government institutions and on public property across the state. Kharge argues that these activities directly contradict the principles of India’s unity and the core spirit of its Constitution.
Minister Kharge submitted this demand in a letter dated October 4th. Following receipt, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has reportedly endorsed the request, recommending “immediate necessary action” and forwarding it to the relevant authorities for implementation.
Emphasizing the need for robust government intervention, Kharge stated, “For the overall well-being of our nation’s children, youth, and society, I strongly urge a ban on all RSS activities—be it shakhas, sanghiks, or baithaks—when conducted on government premises.”
In his letter, Kharge, who is also the son of AICC president Mallikarjun Kharge, alleged that the RSS regularly holds its ‘shakhas’ in government and government-aided schools, public grounds, state-owned temples, sites managed by the Archaeology Department, parks, and other public spaces. He further claimed that during these gatherings, “slogans are chanted, and negative ideologies are instilled in the impressionable minds of children and young people.”
This governmental consideration comes as the RSS recently commemorated its centenary year, an occasion where Prime Minister Narendra Modi commended the organization’s contributions to the welfare of the less fortunate.
Kharge firmly asserted that the Indian Constitution empowers both its citizens and the State to counter any forces that promote division, thereby safeguarding the nation’s foundational secular and democratic values.
The Chief Minister’s Office released Kharge’s letter to the media on Sunday, in which the Minister explicitly stated that the RSS’s belief system “stands opposed to India’s fundamental ideals of unity and its secular framework.”
“When divisive elements that foster hatred among our populace emerge, our Constitution, built on the pillars of integrity, equality, and unity, grants us the authority to restrain such forces and uphold the secular essence of the nation,” the Minister articulated in his communication.
The Minister also alleged that these RSS activities are often conducted “without obtaining the necessary police permission” and involve participants “wielding sticks,” which he claimed could have a “detrimental psychological impact on children and young people.”