RSS holds route marches across Karnataka amid permission row

The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) held route marches at several locations across Karnataka on Sunday as part of its centenary celebrations and Vijayadashami, amid tight police security and a political controversy over permissions, with BJP leaders accusing the Congress Government of “harassing” the organisation.

BJP leaders R Ashoka and Chalavadi Narayanaswamy took part in the march in Jayanagar, Bengaluru. Former Bengaluru Police Commissioner and BJP leader Bhaskar Rao also took part in the events. The marches were organised at several locations in Bengaluru, including Jayanagar and Chamarajpet, with children, youth and senior volunteers participating. In Chamarajpet, the procession passed through various areas before concluding in front of Siddharoodha Ashram. Volunteers marched to the beat of drums and offered their salutations to ‘Mother India’.

In Hubballi, thousands of uniformed RSS volunteers took part in a procession that began at Nehru Maidan and passed through the city’s major streets. Union Minister Pralhad Joshi, Hubballi-Dharwad Central MLA Mahesh Tenginkai, and other leaders joined the march.

In Kalaburagi, volunteers took out a procession from the Nehru Gunj area through Mizaguri Cross, Chaddi Hotel, Danka Cross, Ganesh Temple, Saraf Bazaar, Chowk Police Station Circle, and Kalyani petrol pump, before concluding at the fairground near the Sharanbasaveshwara Temple.

However, some marches were cancelled or postponed because of permission issues.

The march scheduled in Tumakuru was postponed due to the Legislative Council election from the Graduates’ constituency, with November 1 as the alternative date.

In Mulbagal in Kolar district, the event was rescheduled to October 31, while the march in Chikkaballapur was deferred after the Deputy Commissioner withdrew permission.

The route march in Koppal was also reported postponed, while conditional permission was granted for events in Ramanagara and Kalaburagi. In Kalaburagi, organisers were directed to adhere to the prescribed route and avoid provocative speeches.

The developments come amid the model code of conduct in force for elections to four Karnataka Legislative Council constituencies: South-East Graduates’, West Graduates’, North-East Teachers’ and Bengaluru Teachers’. Polling was held on Friday, and counting is scheduled for October 27.

Deputy Chief Minister G Parameshwara said the Election Commission had directed authorities not to grant permission for the Tumakuru march under the model code of conduct.

“When I was the Home Minister last time, there was no problem. We had granted permission. This time, when they (RSS leaders) submitted an application, I had said permission should be granted. However, the Election Commission wrote to us saying that permission should not be given. The district authorities informed me that the model code of conduct was in force,” he said.

“If the Election Commission gives such a direction, how can we go ahead with it? If the district administration grants permission in defiance of the Election Commission, it would be wrong. Action could be taken against the officials concerned,” Parameshwara said.

Ashoka criticised the Government for delaying permission, alleging that the RSS faced “unprecedented harassment”.

“It is unprecedented for the authorities to keep people waiting until the last day to grant permission. Neither Indira Gandhi nor Nehru did this. Despite the harassment and difficulties faced this time, you conducted the route march with great enthusiasm and peacefully, aiming to preserve communal harmony in the country. We are all proud of you,” he said.

Targeting state Home Minister Priyank Kharge for insisting that prior permission was mandatory, Ashoka challenged him to get Chief Minister D K Shivakumar to speak on the issue.

“Let D K Shivakumar speak. Why are you speaking? Let us see if you have the courage to make Chief Minister D K Shivakumar speak on this issue. Are you unable to get him to speak? Why are you speaking instead? Is your Chief Minister observing a vow of silence?” he asked.

Union Minister Pralhad Joshi, who participated in the Hubballi march, said neither the RSS nor the BJP was against Muslims and accused Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge of practising “appeasement politics”.

Joshi also questioned the Government’s justification for denying permission in some places, saying it was using the model code of conduct as an excuse.

“The local police have granted permission here. Is the model code of conduct not in force here? I personally feel that the D K Shivakumar Government is resorting to such unnecessary controversies largely to divert attention from other issues,” he said.

The permission dispute has intensified after Minister Priyank Kharge repeatedly criticised the RSS, saying organisations conducting route marches must submit applications and obtain permission rather than merely inform the police.

Kharge has also questioned why the RSS has not registered itself despite its century-long existence and sought details of its revenue sources for organising large-scale events. He has separately questioned the practice of RSS volunteers carrying sticks during route marches.

The RSS conducted the route marches under police security arrangements intended to prevent untoward incidents and maintain law and order.