‘Are They Super Citizens’: Priyank Kharge Questions ‘Audacity’ Of RSS Over Chittapur March | Politics News

Karnataka IT/BT Minister Priyank Kharge (Credits: ANI)

Chittapur, the seat from Kalaburagi which has become the new political hotbed, is once again at the centre of a confrontation between Karnataka minister Priyank Kharge and the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS). The junior Kharge has questioned the “audacity of the RSS” for declaring that it will go ahead with its Path Sanchalan in Kalaburagi even as the matter is still being heard in the Karnataka High Court.

“They talk of marching in my constituency with the audacity that they will defy the law and the orders of the court,” questioned Kharge in an interview with News18.

Kharge said the court has clearly stated that permissions can be granted only if the environment is conducive and the peace and tranquillity of the place will not be disturbed — a decision left to the discretion of local authorities to assess.

He warned that any attempt to hold the march in defiance of court orders or government directions would be dealt with legally.

“If the government thinks that there is a conducive environment, we will see. We will give all organisations permission or reject all organisations. The law is the same for all. Why is the RSS hell-bent on not following the rule of the land or the Constitution? First of all, they don’t seek permission for these route marches — they only give information. Are they some super citizens of the country,” Kharge questioned.

Speaking to News18, Kharge said that senior RSS leader Kalladka Prabhakar Bhat, who had claimed that the Path Sanchalan “will take place at any cost” in Chittapur, was mistaken.

“If Mr Kalladka Prabhakar thinks that he is above the law in Karnataka, he is mistaken. Only if the court allows permission, and if the government deems it fit, if there is a conducive environment in Chittapur to have a march, then only they will have a march. Nobody is above the law — neither me, nor the RSS, nor Mr Kalladka Prabhakar. Let him defy the law and see in Chittapur. He will be behind bars,” Kharge told News18.

The Chittapur local Tahsildar had earlier denied permission to the RSS on October 19, stating that two other Dalit groups had sought permission for rallies on the same day along with the RSS and it could cause law and order issues.

Six organisations, including the RSS, Bhim Army, and Bharatiya Dalit Panthers, Karnataka Rajya Raitha Sangha , Indian Christian welfare association have sought permission to hold marches in Chittapur on November 2.

The government, while arguing the case based on a petition submitted by the RSS to the Kalaburagi Bench of the Karnataka High Court seeking permission to hold the route march in Chittapur, said it was yet to decide.

Representing the Karnataka government, Advocate General of Karnataka Shashi Kiran Shetty told the High Court hearing the petition filed by the RSS that tensions in Chittapur had risen due to provocative social media posts by certain groups, and that allowing any procession at this stage could lead to public unrest.

The AG also read out a report submitted by the local authorities that cited practical concerns such as narrow lanes, heavy traffic, and densely populated areas along the proposed procession route.

The state government also submitted to the court that permissions for processions could be considered later, once normalcy returns, and clarified that the government had not denied permission for the RSS march but had only deferred the dates to grant permission.

The court had also directed the local administration to conduct peace meetings with organisers and citizens on October 28 before taking a final call, given the “prevailing tension in Chittapur town and across the taluk.” The matter was posted for the next hearing on October 30, based on the outcome of these peace meetings.