The Yadgir district administration has granted permission to the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) to hold a march on Friday, 31 October, in Gurmitkal town — the political stronghold of Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge. The march will begin from Narendra Rathod Layout and pass through Samrat Circle, Basaveshwara Circle, Hanuman Temple, and Kumbarwadi. The decision to allow the procession comes amid growing tensions between the ruling Congress and the RSS in Karnataka.
Kharge, who has represented the Gurmitkal constituency eight times as an MLA, is considered the region’s most prominent political figure. His son, IT and Rural Development Minister Priyank Kharge, recently sparked a major controversy after urging Chief Minister Siddaramaiah to impose a comprehensive ban on RSS “shakhas”, “sanghiks” (gatherings), and “baithaks” (meetings) in all government premises.
However, despite political opposition, the district administration has cleared the RSS’s request to hold the march — but with strict conditions.
According to officials, the organisers must ensure that the procession remains peaceful and follows the designated route. The administration has prohibited the use of slogans that could hurt caste or religious sentiments and banned participants from carrying weapons. Additionally, the organisers have been directed to ensure that no public or private property is damaged, no shops are forcibly closed, and the general public is not inconvenienced.
The controversy stems from a government order (GO) issued on October 18, which made prior permission mandatory for private organisations, associations, or groups to use government property for their activities. Although the GO did not name any specific organisation, it was widely seen as an attempt by the Congress government to restrict RSS operations in the state.
The opposition BJP sharply criticised the move, calling it an effort to suppress the RSS.
In a significant development earlier this week, the Karnataka High Court stayed the government order. A single-judge bench of Justice M. Nagaprasanna, hearing a petition filed by the Hubballi Punashchetana Service Organisation, observed that the government’s directive violated fundamental rights under Article 19 (1)(a) and (b) of the Constitution.
“The right granted by the Constitution cannot be taken away by a government order,” the court stated while issuing the stay. The matter will next be heard on 17 November.
Meanwhile, Priyank has continued his criticism of the RSS, accusing it of “brainwashing young minds” with divisive ideology. “Such activities are contrary to India’s ideals of unity and secularism,” he said, alleging that RSS events promote hatred and communal tension. He also linked the organisation’s influence to recent incidents of violence in Mangaluru and the Malnad regions.
“The brainwashing happening in schools and public spaces must stop,” Priyank asserted, adding that such behaviour undermines the Constitution’s principles of equality and harmony.
As the RSS prepares to hold its march in Gurmitkal under tight administrative conditions, the political and ideological clash between the Congress and RSS appears set to intensify further in Karnataka.
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