Kalaburagi, October 27, 2025 – In a bid to defuse brewing communal friction in Chittapur taluk, representatives from 10 diverse organizations gathered Monday at the deputy commissioner's office here for an urgent peace committee meeting, as directed by the Karnataka High Court. The high-stakes huddle, convened to deliberate on the contentious Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) route march slated for November 2, underscores the fragile law-and-order equilibrium in the region, where overlapping protest applications have sparked fears of clashes between ideological foes.
The assembly, limited to three delegates per group, marks a pivotal step following the High Court's October 25 order from its Kalaburagi bench, urging authorities to facilitate dialogue before greenlighting any events. Justice M.G.S. Kamal's directive came in response to a petition by RSS district convener Ashok Patil, challenging the Chittapur tahsildar's denial of permission for the march—a commemoration of Vijayadashami that has ballooned into a flashpoint for counter-mobilization. Participants were also encouraged to submit written memoranda, with the administration mandated to file a compliance report by October 30, when the matter returns to court.
Among the invitees were heavyweights like the RSS, Bharatiya Dalit Panther, Bhim Army, Gonda-Kuruba SC Action Committee, Chalawadi Welfare Association, Karnataka Raitha Sangha, and Hasiru Sene, alongside three other local outfits focused on farmers' rights and minority welfare. "This isn't just about one march; it's about ensuring Chittapur doesn't erupt into another hotspot of division," said Bhim Army regional coordinator Ravi Kumar, emphasizing the need for "mutual respect" in scheduling events. RSS activist Patil, arriving with a sheaf of legal documents, struck a conciliatory tone: "We've always upheld peace, but our constitutional right to assemble can't be trampled under fears of orchestrated opposition."
Tensions trace back to mid-October, when the tahsildar rebuffed the RSS's initial October 19 application, citing intelligence reports of potential unrest. The denial prompted a cascade of rival bids: Bhim Army and Dalit Panthers sought parallel processions along the same 2-km stretch in Chittapur town, invoking Ambedkarite solidarity against perceived "majoritarian overreach." Subsequent rejections fueled High Court interventions, with the state government, represented by Advocate General Shashikiran Shetty, painting a picture of a "tense situation" exacerbated by social media saber-rattling and anonymous threats. Chittapur, nestled in IT Minister Priyank Kharge's constituency, has long simmered with caste and communal undercurrents, amplified by recent FIRs against RSS leader Kalladka Prabhakar Bhat for alleged hate speech at an October 20 event.
Local authorities, led by Kalaburagi Deputy Commissioner B. Shiva Kumar, opened the two-hour session with a recap of security assessments, including drone surveillance and troop deployments. "Our goal is consensus— no victor, only victors for harmony," Kumar stated, revealing that over 500 personnel would standby if the march proceeds. Farmer groups like Karnataka Raitha Sangha voiced ancillary concerns, linking the imbroglio to unresolved agrarian woes, while environmentalists from Hasiru Sene warned against politicizing public spaces.
As deliberations wrapped, optimism tempered caution: a tentative "gentleman's agreement" emerged for staggered timings, pending court nod. Yet, skeptics abound. Dalit Panther spokesperson Lakshmi Devi decried the RSS's "provocative symbolism," urging a blanket ban on uniformed marches in sensitive pockets. BJP state spokesperson Dr. V. Sunil Kumar, monitoring from afar, accused the Congress regime of "selective appeasement," likening the delays to "anti-Hindu bias."
This convening echoes broader national debates on assembly rights versus public safety, especially post-Galwan when RSS events faced similar scrutiny. For Chittapur's 1.2 lakh residents— a mosaic of Lingayats, Dalits, and Muslims—these talks are more than procedural; they're a bulwark against the fractures that have sporadically scarred Karnataka's north. With Diwali's glow fading into election-season shadows, the October 30 hearing looms as the next arena, where words today could avert truncheons tomorrow.
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