Pralhad Joshi slams Karnataka govt over suspension of teachers for RSS route march
Union Minister Pralhad Joshi on Friday accused the Karnataka government of acting out of "hatred" after it suspended two government school teachers for taking part in RSS route marches, and asked for the suspension to be withdrawn.
Defending the move, state Home Minister Priyank Kharge asked why government teachers had joined an event held by what he called an "unregistered organisation," an apparent reference to the RSS.
Joshi also questioned the government's priorities, asking if it should instead be focused on finding missing IAS officer Jnanendra Kumar Gangwar, who is wanted over alleged large-scale irregularities in the Karnataka Public Service Commission.
"Today, IAS officer Jnanendra Kumar Gangwar is missing. Is the government's job to catch him, or is it to suspend two teachers for participating in the activities of the RSS," Joshi told reporters.
The Education Department had suspended two teachers from Yadgi district, Gururaj Joshi and Anna Saheb Deshmukh, for attending an RSS route march, while a departmental inquiry is carried out.
According to the department, their participation in the RSS Patha Sanchalana appeared to go against the Karnataka Civil Services (Conduct) Rules, 2021.
Joshi said courts had, in the past, struck down attempts to stop government employees from taking part in RSS activities.
"Not just in the last 10 or 12 years, but whenever action has been taken against government employees for participating in Sangh activities since the 1970s and 1980s, or whenever attempts have been made to prevent or restrict the activities of the Sangh in one way or another, the courts have struck them down," he said.
"The Supreme Court of India has given such judgments. A similar thing had happened in Punjab, where government employees were accused of participating in RSS activities. I will give you the details of the case," he added.
Joshi accused the government of acting with "hatred" and said it should stop behaving with such "vindictiveness."
"The suspension order will be struck down in court, and you will lose your honour and reputation," he said.
BJP MLA Mahesh Tenginkai also criticised the suspensions, calling them highly objectionable.
He said the RSS works independently and has no ties to any political party.
"The RSS has no connection with any party or political organisation. It is an organisation that functions independently. There is an open opportunity for everyone to participate in it," he said.
"BJP workers can participate, Congress workers can participate, JD(S) workers can participate, or anyone holding any responsibility can participate. There is no question of imposing any restriction on this," he added.
Tenginkai said the suspensions were politically motivated and demanded they be withdrawn immediately.
"We will not tolerate this suspension under any circumstances," he said.
Meanwhile, minister Kharge defended the action.
"As far as the Education Department is concerned, see, if somebody has complained, and if the department feels that it is not appropriate for them to participate in it, the department will take action," he told reporters in Bengaluru.
"And why should our employees participate in an unregistered organisation," Kharge asked. (with inputs from PTI)
