The office of the tehsildar and taluka executive magistrate in Kalaburai said chaos is anticipated if both the RSS and the Bhim Army hold parallel marches on the same route on Sunday.
Published Oct 19, 2025 | 9:14 AM ⚊ Updated Oct 19, 2025 | 12:32 PM
RSS workers at a rally. (Supplied)
Synopsis: The Kalaburagi tehsildar and taluka executive magistrate denied permission for the RSS to hold a flag march in the district, anticipating “chaos” since the Bhim Army planned a parallel march on the same route. The Tehsildar’s office issued an order, citing the planned counter march, to deny permissions for both the rallies.
The Kalaburagi tehsildar and taluka executive magistrate in Karnataka on Saturday, 18 October, denied permission for the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) to hold a flag march in the district, anticipating “chaos” since the Bhim Army also planned a march on the same route on Sunday.
The Dalit organisation sought permission to hold a parallel march to the RSS’s planned march in Chittapur on Sunday, in support of Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Minister Priyank Kharge, who faced cyberbullying and death threats following his call for a ban on RSS activities on public properties, including school premises.
Chittapur is also the home constituency of the Congress leader. The Tehsildar’s office issued an order, citing the planned counter-march, to deny permission for both rallies.
A few days ago, after Kharge urged Chief Minister Siddaramaiah to ban the activities of the RSS on government premises, he shared a video on social media that showed an unknown caller threatening and hurling vile abuses at him.
At a press conference held in Kalaburagi on Saturday, Santhosh Pala, the State president of the Bhim Army’s youth wing, said that supporters of the RSS had misinterpreted Kharge’s demand as a call to completely ban the saffron organisation.
The marches and counter marches are planned at a time when the BJP, RSS and the Congress have been at loggerheads after the state cabinet decided to frame regulations to regulate activities of all private organisations on government-owned properties.
The office of the tehsildar and taluka executive magistrate in the Kalaburai district issued the letter on Saturday and said chaos is anticipated if both the RSS and the Bhim Army hold parallel marches on the same route on Sunday.
“If all the organisations march together, there would have been a possibility of any one of them causing chaos, which would have a negative impact on the law and order situation,” the order said.
The Chittapur police station submitted a report, after collecting information from the public and the informants, stating that it was not appropriate to grant permission to the Dalit organisations to carry out a parallel march.
Additionally, the tehsildar, in the letter, also stated that an order has been issued to refuse permission for the RSS procession as “the peace and law and order in Chittapur town may be disturbed.”
While the RSS had planned to carry out scheduled ‘Path Sanchalan’ (foot march) programmes across the state to commemorate the organisation completing 100 years, tension was reported in Chittapur on Friday night after municipal authorities removed saffron flags, banners and other decorative items that had been put up for the event.
Karnataka BJP leaders, including Leader of Opposition in the state Assembly R Ashoka, condemned the move.
“Is Chittapur in India or is it the Republic of the Kharge family? Permission letter has been obtained from the municipality for the RSS pathasanchalana. Advertisement tax has been paid to the municipality for putting up banners and flags, and a receipt has been obtained. Despite all this, you have removed the saffron banners and flags in the dead of night, Minister Kharge sir, do you think you are the Nizam of Chittapur or a Razakar?” he said in a post on X.
BJP Karnataka President BY Vijayendra claimed that government officials are being used to suppress freedom of expression and speech in Chittapur. “RSS, along with pro-Hindu organisations, had obtained permission as per regulations to organise a procession to celebrate the centenary of the Sangh. However, the local MLA and Minister Priyank Kharge has continued to pursue divisive politics by casting a malicious eye on this event,” he said in a post on X.
The RSS has also planned marches in Bantwal, Harihara, Byndoor, Gubbi and Kunigal, among other areas.
(Edited by Muhammed Fazil.)
