In his letter, Kharge claimed that RSS activities were “brainwashing young minds,” adding that the organization was spreading hate, violating constitutional values, and conducting unauthorized drills that could have a harmful psychological impact on children.
Karnataka Minister Priyank Kharge
In his letter, Kharge claimed that RSS activities were “brainwashing young minds,” adding that the organization was spreading hate, violating constitutional values, and conducting unauthorized drills that could have a harmful psychological impact on children.
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Responding to the letter, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah assured that “necessary action” would be taken upon receiving the communication from the Rural Development and Panchayat Raj (RDPR) Minister.
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BJP, other parties reactions
BJP state president BY Vijayendra slammed Kharge for the letter, calling his claims baseless and politically motivated.
“Only those who do not understand the background and activities of the RSS, and who speak merely for publicity, can make such statements. If someone in a responsible position like Priyank Kharge has written such an irresponsible letter, it’s a display of his foolishness,” the BJP leader said.
He added, “The Congress has banned the RSS two or three times in the past, but has also withdrawn those bans. These facts are well known to the nation.”
Vijayendra also claimed that during the Sino-Indian War, it was the Congress government that allowed the RSS to participate in the Republic Day parade.
“Talking about banning the RSS again is not something they can actually implement. It seems he wrote this letter just to please the Gandhi family and further his own ambition to become Chief Minister,” he added.
Karnataka Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao also questioned the RSS, stating, “The RSS is a political outfit, even though they claim to be a cultural organization. How can a political outfit be allowed to use government facilities?”
Chhattisgarh Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Sharma also criticized Kharge’s call to ban the RSS in schools and colleges, asking, “On what basis are such things being said?”
Meanwhile, Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut weighed in on the controversy by referencing the Statue of Unity—Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel’s statue in Gujarat—built under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Raut reiterated his earlier statement in Parliament that if Sardar Patel had become Prime Minister, “organizations like the RSS and BJP may never have emerged.”
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