Published Oct 20, 2026 | 4:18 PM ⚊ Updated Oct 20, 2026 | 4:18 PM
Kharge has been one of the most vocal critics of the Sangh, the BJP’s ideological parent, in recent months.
Synopsis: Karnataka Home Minister Priyank Kharge has asked the RSS to obtain formal police permission for its Vijayadashami route marches on 25 October, saying that informing the police and seeking their cooperation do not constitute approval. He shared two representations submitted by RSS units in Bengaluru and said that deploying personnel, managing traffic and making other arrangements require considerable preparation.
Karnataka Home Minister Priyank Kharge has told the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) to seek formal police permission for its Vijayadashami route marches on 25 October, saying that merely informing the police or asking them to cooperate does not amount to obtaining permission.
In a sarcastic post on X, Kharge asked RSS members to submit applications under the prescribed procedure and await approval from the competent authorities. He shared two representations submitted by RSS representatives to police in Bengaluru, one dated 13 October and the other 15 October, informing them of route marches planned in Laggere and Kamalanagar.
“My dearest Swayamsevaks of the RSS, Hope the Dasara festivities are in full swing! Not to be a wet blanket, but a gentle reminder, merely “informing” or telling the Home Department to “cooperate” or “make necessary arrangements” is not the same as obtaining permission (sic),” he wrote.
Kharge cited the RSS’s Akhil Bharatiya Pratinidhi Sabha Annual Report for 2025-26, which, he said, recorded 562 route marches across Karnataka involving 2,21,963 uniformed participants.
“…when lakhs of you intend to march through Karnataka’s streets on single day at the same time, the Police Department has considerable preparations to make: deployment of personnel, transportation, food, traffic management, security arrangements and other logistics. All of this requires planning, manpower and public resources. So, please fill out the prescribed application form, provide the necessary details and await formal permission. Happy Dasara!” he added.
My dearest Swayamsevaks of the RSS,
Hope the Dasara festivities are in full swing!
Not to be a wet blanket, but a gentle reminder, merely “informing” or telling the Home Department to “cooperate” or “make necessary arrangements” is not the same as obtaining permission.
Please submit your application in accordance with the prescribed procedure applicable to all organizations and await formal approval from the competent authorities.
I am sure you have read your own Akhil Bharatiya Pratinidhi Sabha Annual Report 2025–26, which states that the RSS conducted 562 route marches across Karnataka, involving 2,21,963 uniformed participants.
Now, when lakhs of you intend to march through Karnataka’s streets on single day at the same time, the Police Department has considerable preparations to make: deployment of personnel, transportation, food, traffic management, security arrangements and other logistics.
All of this requires planning, manpower and public resources.
So, please fill out the prescribed application form, provide the necessary details and await formal permission.
Happy Dasara!
— Priyank Kharge / ಪ್ರಿಯಾಂಕ್ ಖರ್ಗೆ (@PriyankKharge) October 20, 2026
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The Kamalanagar representation, dated 15 October, was addressed to the Police Circle Inspector of Mahalakshmi Layout police station. It said the RSS unit would begin its march at 9 am on 25 October from the ground beside the Shiva Temple on Pipeline Road, proceed through Kempegowda Layout and Kasturi Residential Area, and return to the starting point.
The letter also said arrangements would be made for a stage, microphone, chairs, banners, buntings, flags and other facilities. It stated that a map of the procession route was enclosed and requested police personnel to cooperate in making the march successful.
The second representation, dated 13 October, was addressed to the Nandini Layout police station and the Nandini Layout Traffic Police Inspector. It informed the police that the RSS would conduct a Vijayadashami route march in Laggere from 9 am to 11.30 am on 25 October.
The letter said the procession would start at 9.30 am from Apollo National School Ground, Gate 01, Chowdeshwari Nagara, and proceed along the main streets of the Chowdeshwari Residential Area.
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Kharge has been one of the most vocal critics of the Sangh, the BJP’s ideological parent, in recent months. Earlier this month, he said it was an “unregistered money-laundering unit” and alleged that it carried out “illegal activities” in the name of religion.
The Minister wrote to RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat on 13 June, seeking clarification on how the organisation continued to function without registration despite, by its own admission, having an extensive organisational presence across the country.
The letter marked Kharge’s first major legal move against the RSS since he began publicly challenging the BJP’s ideological parent organisation last year.
On 10 June, he questioned why BJP leaders were responding on behalf of the RSS.
“And why is the BJP speaking? Has the RSS died? Do they not have a tongue? If I speak about the RSS, why do they answer? Have BJP leaders taken a contract for them?” he said.
Kharge also invited RSS leaders either to summon him to their offices or visit his office to explain why the organisation should not be formally registered.
Earlier this year, Kharge alleged that the RSS was involved in money laundering and questioned how it financed its domestic and international operations through a network of more than 2,500 affiliated organisations.
Last year, Bhagwat said the organisation functioned as a recognised “body of individuals” and that its donations, or guru dakshina, had been exempted from income tax following litigation. He also said courts had recognised its status as a body of individuals.
(Edited by Dese Gowda)
