Yadgir, November 4, 2025 – As dawn broke over the dusty streets of Yadgir district, Karnataka, the air thickened with anticipation and unease: the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and the Dalit Sangharsh Samiti (DSS) have both sought last-minute permissions for separate route marches today, November 4, in a flashpoint that has reignited deep-seated communal frictions in this politically charged corner of the state. With Yadgir administration scrambling to avert clashes, the dual applications – one for a Hindu unity procession in Gurmitkal and another for a Dalit rights rally in Yadgir town – underscore escalating divides between caste-based mobilization and ideological assertions, drawing sharp rebukes from local leaders and activists.
The RSS, the ideological fountainhead of the BJP, plans a "Samajik Samrasta" (social harmony) route march through Gurmitkal, the former stronghold of Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, starting at 9 a.m. from the local shakha ground. Organizers, led by district pracharak Vinayak Rao, insist the event is apolitical, aimed at promoting national integration ahead of the Hindu new year. "Our march carries the tricolor, not lathis or khaki shorts – it's about unity, not division," Rao told reporters outside the Deputy Commissioner's office, countering accusations of provocative symbolism. However, the application specifies up to 500 participants, with requests for minimal police presence, citing a recent Karnataka High Court ruling that lifted blanket bans on large gatherings.
In a direct counterpoint, the DSS, a prominent Dalit advocacy group affiliated with Ambedkarite movements, has filed for a parallel procession from the Ambedkar Circle in Yadgir town at 10 a.m., demanding reservations in private sector jobs and an end to "upper-caste hegemony." DSS convenor Basavaraj Madivalar, flanked by Bhim Army supporters, accused the RSS of using the march to "infiltrate Dalit areas and dilute our struggles." "They march with saffron agendas while we fight for dignity – separate paths, or we'll have chaos," Madivalar declared, echoing protests that turned a recent peace committee meeting into a shouting match last week.
Tensions have simmered since early October, when initial RSS permit requests sparked outrage among Dalit outfits, including the Bharatiya Dalit Panthers, who staged dharnas outside the Yadgir DC's office. A chaotic all-party meeting on October 29 devolved into slogan-shouting, with no consensus on routes or security. The Yadgir police, under Superintendent of Police G. Sridhar, have invoked Section 144 in sensitive pockets, deploying 1,000 personnel including Rapid Action Force units. "We've approved staggered timings and alternate routes to prevent overlap – RSS in Gurmitkal outskirts, DSS in town core. Drones and CCTV will monitor, but we urge restraint," Sridhar said, revealing intelligence of potential infiltrators from both sides.
The standoff carries heavy political undercurrents in this Congress bastion, where Kharge's legacy as a Dalit leader looms large. State BJP president B.Y. Vijayendra slammed the Siddaramaiah government for "catering to vote-bank politics" by scrutinizing RSS plans, while Congress MLA Priyank Kharge (son of the AICC chief) urged the district to deny permissions altogether. "RSS marches aren't harmony; they're hegemony. Protect our community's peace," he posted on X, amplifying a chorus from over 20 Dalit groups that petitioned the High Court last week. The court, in a October 31 order, directed authorities to balance free assembly rights with public order, halting a proposed cap on participants.
Local residents, caught in the crossfire, express weary frustration. "Yadgir's markets shut early yesterday; kids aren't going to school today. Enough with these ego battles – we're all Kannadigas," sighed shopkeeper Ramesh Patil, whose store overlooks the proposed DSS route. Human rights watchdog People's Watch has decried the polarization, calling for neutral observers and linking it to a spike in caste atrocities: Yadgir reported three Dalit attacks in the past month alone.
As bugles and drums warm up for the marches, Yadgir teeters on a knife-edge. Will today's processions foster the harmony both claim, or fracture it further? With national eyes on this microcosm of India's caste-ideology faultlines, the coming hours will test Karnataka's fragile social fabric.
TCO News is on the ground in Yadgir for live updates. In case of emergencies, dial 100 for police assistance.
For More News Updates Follow Us On Www.tconews.in
