Bengaluru, October 18, 2025 – The Karnataka Legislative Assembly turned into a battleground of ideologies on Friday as the ruling Congress and opposition BJP traded barbs over proposed restrictions on Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) activities in public and government spaces, reigniting deep-seated political fault lines in the state.
The debate, triggered by a letter from IT/BT and RDPR Minister Priyank Kharge to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah last week, urged the adoption of Tamil Nadu-style regulations to limit RSS events on public premises. Siddaramaiah promptly directed Chief Secretary Shalini Rajneesh to study the feasibility, prompting the Cabinet to introduce rules mandating prior permissions for all organizations, including the RSS – the ideological fountainhead of the BJP – to hold gatherings in public areas. Congress leaders framed the move as a bulwark against "hate politics," while BJP lawmakers decried it as a desperate ploy to mask governance lapses.
In a blistering opening salvo, AICC secretary P.V. Mohan likened the RSS to fascist regimes, accusing it of fostering division since its inception. "Hitler and Mussolini inspired it. They imported racial thinking and upheld the caste system of the Manusmriti," Mohan thundered in the assembly, linking the outfit's ideology to historical tragedies like the Partition of India, Mahatma Gandhi's assassination, and the Babri Masjid demolition. He called for a "cleansing" of RSS influences in ministries and educational institutions, urging Karnataka to craft its own model beyond mere Tamil Nadu emulation.
Priyank Kharge, whose anti-RSS rhetoric has intensified amid speculation of a Congress leadership shuffle in November, doubled down during the session. "Why do BJP leaders never send their children to RSS shakhas?" he quipped, highlighting perceived hypocrisy while insisting the curbs would ensure "neutrality in civic spaces." Kharge clarified that a full ban falls under central jurisdiction but emphasized regulating access to government properties as a state prerogative. Observers see Kharge's push as a bid to outmaneuver Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar in the race for CM's chair, especially after Shivakumar's recent overtures to Hindutva figures embarrassed the party high command.
The BJP, sensing electoral ammunition, mounted a fierce counteroffensive. Leader of Opposition R. Ashok accused the Siddaramaiah government of "targeting RSS to divert attention from crumbling roads and neglected panchayats," labeling Priyank Kharge's barbs as "daydreams of overtaking Shivakumar in the November revolution." BJP State President B.Y. Vijayendra echoed this on social media, slamming the curbs as an "unnecessary attack" that would only bolster the RSS's nationwide network. "The RSS will only grow... due to its commitment to nation-building," Vijayendra posted, alluding to historical attempts to stifle the organization post-Independence.
Adding fuel to the fire, Bijapur City MLA Basanagouda Patil Yatnal demanded parity, questioning why Congress wasn't cracking down on "anti-national outfits like SDPI" or unregulated practices such as roadside Namaz and animal sacrifices during festivals. "If Kharge is serious, ban madrasas spreading misinformation first," Yatnal retorted, drawing cheers from BJP benches. The opposition's outrage peaked over the suspension of Panchayat Development Officer Praveen Kumar KP, who was penalized on Friday for joining an RSS centenary route march in Lingsugur on October 12 – clad in uniform and wielding a stick. The RDPR Department cited violations of civil service conduct rules mandating political neutrality, ordering an inquiry. BJP chief Vijayendra branded it an "assault on patriotic sentiments" and a hallmark of Congress's "perverse anti-Hindu mindset," vowing constitutional recourse.
The acrimony spilled beyond the assembly halls. In Kalaburagi, saffron banners and RSS publicity material were swiftly removed following Kharge's directives, prompting BJP accusations of "Emergency-style vendetta." A senior RSS functionary dismissed the moves as "politics of hate," predicting they would "only unite Hindus." Meanwhile, the RSS upped the ante by scheduling a march in Kharge's Chittapur constituency on October 19, with permission requests pending – a direct gauntlet thrown amid Kharge's vow to enforce rules without bias, even welcoming BJP leaders' kin in RSS attire.
Legal eagles weighed in with caution. Former Lokayukta and Supreme Court judge N. Santosh Hegde warned that any outright ban on RSS would be "against the Constitution," infringing on the right to association. "It would boomerang – the BJP will ban Congress when back in power," Hegde cautioned, decrying the partisan tit-for-tat as a "blame game" endemic to Indian politics.
As the winter session adjourns, the debate remains unresolved, with no bill tabled yet and the Chief Secretary's report awaited. Political analysts view it as symbolic posturing: Congress burnishing secular credentials for minorities ahead of local polls, while BJP rallies its Hindutva core. Yet, in RSS-stronghold regions like coastal Karnataka, where the outfit is woven into the social fabric, implementation could prove thornier than rhetoric suggests. "Priyank may be sincere, but where was Congress during its past tenures?" quipped a veteran strategist, underscoring doubts over the party's resolve.
For now, the assembly's echoes signal a polarized Karnataka, where ideology trumps infrastructure in the corridors of power.
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