In a recent letter to Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, Karnataka minister and Congress leader Priyank Kharge has called for a ban on all activities conducted by the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) in government institutions and public spaces throughout the state. Kharge argues that such activities undermine India’s unity and contravene the spirit of the Constitution.
Kharge alleges that the RSS has been organizing its shakhas in both government and government-aided schools, as well as in public areas, where he claims that slogans are shouted and divisive ideologies are imparted to children and youth. The Chief Minister’s Office (CMO) released this letter to the media on the same day that RSS parades took place across Bengaluru.
In his correspondence, Kharge criticized the RSS’s belief system, asserting it is at odds with India’s foundational principles of unity and secularism. He stated, “When divisive forces that sow hatred among the people raise their heads, our Constitution, founded on the core principles of integrity, equality, and unity, grants us the authority to curb such elements and uphold the secular values of the nation.”
The minister further claimed that aggressive displays by the RSS, conducted without police permission and involving the use of sticks, pose a potential psychological threat to children and young people. He emphasized the need for prompt government action, writing, “In the interest of the well-being of the country’s children, youth, the public, and society as a whole, I earnestly request that a ban be imposed on all types of activities conducted by the RSS, whether under the name of ‘shakha’, ‘sanghik’, or ‘baithak’.”
Kharge suggested the ban should encompass “government schools, government-aided schools, public playgrounds, parks, temples under the Muzrai Department, sites under the Archaeology Department, and any other government premises.” He underscored that the Constitution empowers both citizens and the state to confront divisive forces, ensuring the protection of secular and democratic values.
In comments to the IANS news agency regarding his letter, Kharge stated, “I have not written the letter against RSS; I have written a letter for the children and the future of theirs, for the future of the children of our state. The philosophy of RSS is poisonous; it does not do good for anybody. If the philosophy was so good, the BJP leaders themselves would have ensured that their children adopted it. How many BJP children go to RSS shakhas, how many of them wear ganaveshas, how many of them have taken trishul deekshas, how many of them know the RSS anthem, how many of them visit RSS shakhas regularly? They are all studying in universities abroad…”
The situation remains tense as discussions continue regarding the role of the RSS in public life and its alignment with the values espoused by the Indian Constitution.
Tags: Priyank Kharge, RSS ban, Karnataka, secular values, public institutions
Hashtags: #Minister #Priyank #Kharge #urges #ban #RSS #activities #Karnatakas #public #institutions #citing #threat #secular #values
