K’ntka state officials cannot participate in RSS events: minister warns
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Bengaluru: Tightening its crack down on communal Hindutva organisation Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), the Karnataka government said on Monday that state government officials cannot participate in the organisation’s activites. Karnataka IT/BT Minister Priyank Kharge said that those flouting the rules will face strict action, Economic Times reported.
In the matter of a state medical officer participating in RSS route march in Kalaburagi, the minister said that authorities will run inquiries and if found evidence against the official, the government will act. He reiterated that the government will act on proof and not hearsay, according to ET.
Kharge asserted that the conduct of service rules of the government of India is different from those of the states, acknowledging that Centre’s rules allow employees to participate in the RSS activities.
Earlier, the state government had suspended a panchayat development officer in Raichur for participating in a RSS route march.
RSS conducted its route march in Sedam on Sunday, but participants entered into a conflict with state police. Police arrested some of the particiapnts, though released them later.
In Chittapur, the constitutency represented by Priyank Kharge, RSS was denied to conduct the route march. The tahsildar here denied it permission citing law and order concerns. Two Dalit organisations - the Bhim Army and the Dalit Panthers - had also sought permission for processions on the same route. Authorities cited the potential for clashes as the reason for rejecting RSS’s requests.
The Karnataka High Court had directed the RSS to submit a fresh application to the Kalaburagi district administration for permission to hold its proposed route march in Chittapur on Sunday. According to officials, the tahsildar had sought additional details from RSS representatives, including the expected number of participants, names of speakers, and the organisation’s registration documents. He stated that a final decision would be taken once the necessary information was provided.