Karnataka Home Minister Priyank Kharge has insisted that the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) obtain formal permission from the competent authorities before conducting its route marches across the state, stressing that merely informing the police is not sufficient. He said the same rules and procedures must apply to every organization without exception.
As per Asianet News reports, Karnataka Home Minister Priyank Kharge on Wednesday, October 21, reiterated that the RSS must follow the prescribed legal procedure to organize its Path Sanchalan in the state. He emphasized that submitting information about a proposed event does not amount to obtaining official approval, particularly when large gatherings require extensive police deployment and public-resource management.
Double standards in permission for public rallies?
Kharge’s insistence on strict compliance with permission procedures also raises questions about whether the same standards are applied consistently to all organizations. The Bengaluru police reportedly denied permission for a rally organized by the CJP (Cockroach Janata Party) involving a Tiranga march. Despite the denial, the march proceeded, raising questions about what action, if any, was taken by the authorities. The government must explain whether the organizers faced any legal consequences and clarify why similar standards are not enforced uniformly. Before lecturing any organization about respecting the law, the government must demonstrate that the law is applied equally, without political bias or selective enforcement.
Kharge says informing police is not enough
Kharge said organizations planning route marches must submit formal applications and secure approval from the relevant authorities. He rejected the practice of merely notifying the police about an event and expecting the department to make all necessary arrangements.
According to the Home Minister, the police cannot be expected to organize security and logistical preparations solely on the basis of information submitted by the organizers. He maintained that requests would be considered through the established procedure and that permission would be granted when the proposal was found appropriate. Kharge also clarified that the government was not opposed to granting permission outright. However, he insisted that the RSS, like every other organization, must comply with the applicable requirements rather than assume that notifying the authorities automatically authorizes a march.
Reinforcing his position, Kharge said the RSS was not exempt from the laws and procedures governing public events. Kharge questioned whether the RSS had actually sought permission in its submissions or had merely informed the authorities about its plans. He stressed that government departments operate under established procedures and that even elected representatives must comply with the rules.
Kharge cites RSS report on 562 route marches
In a post on X on October 20, Kharge directly urged RSS members to submit applications through the prescribed procedure and wait for formal approval before proceeding with their planned marches. Referring to the organization’s Akhil Bharatiya Pratinidhi Sabha Annual Report 2025–26, the Home Minister cited figures indicating that the RSS had conducted 562 route marches across Karnataka, involving 221,963 uniformed participants.
Kharge argued that organizing large-scale marches, particularly when multiple events are planned simultaneously, requires substantial advance preparation. These arrangements may include deploying police personnel, managing traffic, coordinating transportation, providing logistical support, and addressing security requirements. He said such preparations require manpower, planning, and public resources, making it essential for organizers to submit complete details and obtain formal approval well in advance.
Government stresses uniform rules for all organizations
Kharge’s remarks place the focus on the administrative and legal requirements governing public processions in Karnataka. His position is that no organization should expect preferential treatment or assume that notifying the authorities is equivalent to receiving permission. The BJP has strongly questioned the Congress government’s apparent double standards on public processions, asking whether permission was sought for the Eid Milad procession and, if so, why similar standards are not being applied to the CJP. While the government is accused of targeting the RSS and BJP over their activities, it must explain why different yardsticks appear to be applied to different organizations. If the rule of law is to mean anything, permission procedures and restrictions must be applied uniformly, not selectively based on political affiliations or ideological differences. The double standards under Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge’s leadership raise serious questions about fairness, consistency, and whether the government is using its authority impartially or allowing political considerations to influence law enforcement.
