The RSS, Kharge said, is instilling negativity in the minds of children and youth, which is against the Constitution.
Published Oct 12, 2025 | 3:50 PM ⚊ Updated Oct 12, 2025 | 3:51 PM
Priyank Kharge with Siddaramaiah
Synopsis: Karnataka Minister Priyank Kharge urged CM Siddaramaiah to ban RSS activities in government properties, alleging their aggressive demonstrations and slogans promote divisive ideology, negatively impacting youth. Citing constitutional values, Kharge linked RSS’s influence to incidents like the shoe-throwing attempt at CJI BR Gavai, prompting calls for a statewide ban on RSS events.
Minister of Rural Development and Panchayat Raj of Karnataka Priyank Kharge on Sunday, wrote a letter to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah urging him to ban all kinds of activities conducted by the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) in government properties, including schools.
Kharge, in the letter, alleged that by holding “aggressive” demonstrations with sticks, without police permission, RSS is negatively impacting the minds of the youth.
“In the interest of the children, youth, public and the well-being of the society, I request you to ban all kinds of activities conducted by the RSS in the name of a branch, Sanghik or Baithak in government schools and government-aided schools and any government places including grounds, parks, temples of the Muzrai Department, places of the Archaeological Department,” the minister said in his letter.
The minister stated in the letter that RSS has been running branches using government schools grounds. The RSS, he said, is indulging in sloganeering and instilling negativity in the minds of children and youth, which is against the Constitution.
“As the Constitution embodies the fundamental principles of integrity, harmony, and unity, it gives us the tools to suppress divisive forces that sow hatred in the community and uphold the secular values of the country when they arise,” Kharge said in his letter.
ಸಂವಿಧಾನದ ಮೌಲ್ಯಗಳನ್ನು ಗಾಳಿಗೆ ತೂರುವ ವಿಭಜಕ ಶಕ್ತಿಗಳು ತಲೆ ಎತ್ತಿದಾಗ ಅವುಗಳನ್ನು ನಿಗ್ರಹಿಸಲು ಸಂವಿಧಾನವೇ ನಮಗೆ ಶಕ್ತಿಯನ್ನು ಮತ್ತು ಅಧಿಕಾರವನ್ನು ನೀಡುತ್ತದೆ.
ಆರ್ಎಸ್ಎಸ್ ಪ್ರತಿಪಾದಿಸುವ ಮೂಲಭೂತವಾದಿ ಸಿದ್ದಾಂತದ ಪರಿಣಾಮದಿಂದಲೇ ಇಂದು ನ್ಯಾಯಾಂಗದ ಮುಖ್ಯಸ್ಥರ ಮೇಲೆ ಶೂ ಎಸೆಯುವಂತಹ ವಾತಾವರಣ ಸೃಷ್ಟಿಯಾಗಿದೆ, ಬಾಬಾ ಸಾಹೇಬ್… pic.twitter.com/b1Gn63uoEq
— Priyank Kharge / ಪ್ರಿಯಾಂಕ್ ಖರ್ಗೆ (@PriyankKharge) October 12, 2025
In a post on X, the minister alleged that the influence of the “fundamentalist ideology” propagated by RSS has led to incidents such as the attempt to hurl a shoe at Chief Justice of India BR Gavai.
“It is due to the influence of the fundamentalist ideology propagated by the RSS that an atmosphere has been created today where shoes are thrown at the Chief Justice, and a mindset of insulting Baba Saheb Ambedkar has grown,” he said.
In 2022, Karnataka had decided to allow RSS to hold training camps on the premises of state-run residential schools in Bidar, Kolar and Uttar Kannada districts. Dalit organisations had then strongly opposed the move by holding protests in these districts.
In fact, as part of its centenary celebrations, the organisation had scheduled marches from Sameerapura Corporation Girls’ School Ground and the BBMP Ground behind Vidyavardhaka School, in Bengaluru, among other areas on Sunday.
(Edited by Amit Vasudev)
