Published Oct 25, 2026 | 7:42 PM ⚊ Updated Oct 25, 2026 | 7:43 PM
Thousands of swayamsevaks participated in the marches.
Synopsis: The RSS held around 100 route marches across Bengaluru amid a political controversy, with BJP leaders accusing the Congress government of imposing restrictions and Minister Priyank Kharge questioning the organisation’s compliance with police permission requirements and registration transparency.
The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) conducted around 100 Patha Sanchalana (route marches) across Bengaluru on Sunday, October 25, with thousands of swayamsevaks participating in different neighbourhoods, amid a political controversy over police permissions and alleged restrictions imposed by the Congress government.
Speaking to South First, Karunakar K, an RSS coordinator, said the organisation had secured permission for all the Bengaluru marches without major hurdles. However, Leader of the Opposition R. Ashoka accused the state government of imposing restrictions and delaying approvals until the last minute.
“In Bengaluru, we conducted the Patha Sanchalana at 100 places. We obtained all the permissions in a scheduled manner, and there were no major hurdles in obtaining permission from the government or the police,” Karunakar said.
Acknowledging delays in some districts, he said permission in Tumakuru was delayed due to the Model Code of Conduct for Legislative Council elections, while Udupi also saw delays, permission was eventually granted with the route marches secheduled for November 1.
“Organisers generally plan the marches 15 to 20 days in advance. The application, along with the route map, has to be submitted to the local police at least three days before the event. The police conduct traffic and security checks before granting final approval, usually one to two days before the march,” Karunakar said.
According to a New Indian Express report , Bengaluru City Police received more than 50 applications for the marches. Five major processions were held across Vijayanagar-Kengeri, Majestic-Chickpet, Jayanagar-JP Nagar, Rajajinagar and Malleshwaram.
Ashoka, who participated in the march organised by the RSS Jayanagar unit alongside Legislative Council Leader of Opposition Chalavadi Narayanaswamy and Jayanagar MLA C K Ramamurthy, alleged that the government had made obtaining permission difficult.
Ashoka said he had participated in the annual march for nearly 50 years and described himself as a proud RSS swayamsevak.
“However, this time, the state government has put a lot of restrictions, and getting permission was a struggle continuing right up to the last day, In history, neither Indira Gandhi nor Nehru did this kind of work,” he claimed.
“Despite all troubles and obstacles, this flag march was successfully and peacefully conducted with great enthusiasm to protect the harmony of the nation. All of us are proud of it,” he said.
BJP leader CN Ashwath Narayan criticised Home Minister Priyank Kharge for asking the RSS to obtain formal police permission for its route marches, and accused him of making “hateful statements” and “baseless allegations”.
“He has got his own opinion. Whether it is his personal opinion or the Congress party’s opinion, I don’t know. His statements have always been very irresponsible for the position he holds,” Narayan said.
“He represents all sections of society. Holding the position of minister in a people’s government, he cannot keep making hateful statements. He cannot make baseless allegations,” he alleged.
“I pray to God to give him some good sense so that he works more responsibly, upholds the Constitution, respects the views and opinions of others, and respects the beliefs and faiths of all sections of society,” Narayan said.
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The controversy over permissions followed Kharge’s demand that the RSS obtain formal police clearance rather than merely inform the authorities about its proposed events.
In a post on X last week, Kharge said informing the Home Department or asking the police to make arrangements did not amount to obtaining permission. He urged the organisation to submit applications in the prescribed format and await formal approval, citing the need for police deployment, traffic management, security and other logistical arrangements.
In an interview, Kharge also 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.
On Sunday, in a post on X, Kharge took a swipe at the RSS over its registration status and called for greater transparency and accountability in its finances.
“There is one symbol the RSS seems to fear more than anything else: R,” Kharge wrote on X.
“R stands for Registered,” he added, stressing that formal registration invited legal scrutiny, financial disclosures, transparency and accountability.
He questioned the RSS’s source of funding, its spending practices, who audits its accounts, and who is ultimately accountable.
“If the RSS has nothing to hide, why not open its books to public scrutiny?” he asked.
The marches were conducted amid police deployment along key stretches to ensure the processions proceeded smoothly and to prevent untoward incidents.
(Edited by Fayisa CA)
