Why RSS Had To Move Karnataka High Court For A March In Chittapur: The Sequence Of Events Explained

Last Updated:October 19, 2025, 16:59 IST

RSS march in Karnataka's Chittarpur: A govt official at a march in Lingasugur, his suspension, Priyank Kharge and government's actions to BJP, RSS reactions, all you need to know

Praveen Kumar (circled) and Priyank Kharge (File)

The Karnataka High Court (HC) on Sunday asked the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) representatives to file a fresh application seeking permission to hold its route march in Chittapur of Kalaburagi district on November 2.

Justice MGS Kamal said this after the petitioner submitted to the court that it intends to hold the route march on November 2, since the permission for Sunday (October 19) was declined by the authorities. A special bench of the HC was constituted to hear the petition filed by Ashok Patil on behalf of the RSS.

Why is the RSS holding marches?

The RSS is conducting 100-year anniversary route marches (path sanchalans) across India. Karnataka saw several marches earlier this month.

Why October 12 march led to an uproar

The RSS held a route march in Lingasugur, Raichur district (northeast Karnataka). A government official, Praveen Kumar K.P. (Taluk Panchayat Development Officer), was seen participating in full RSS uniform (white shirt, khaki shorts, black cap, danda/stick). The photos and videos soon went viral, leading to an uproar.

The impact

Karnataka minister Priyank Kharge then wrote to CM Siddaramaiah, seeking a ban on RSS activities on government premises, calling RSS a “divisive and unconstitutional" force. The letter also asked to consider the Tamil Nadu model, where such activities are restricted in public places.

October 13: Kharge followed up with another letter to the CM. He demanded a ban on government employees participating in RSS events, citing Rule 5(1) of Karnataka Civil Services Conduct Rules. This included attending route marches and shakhas, even in private capacity.

October 14-15: The debate intensified as the government reviewed disciplinary action against Praveen Kumar. BJP leaders defended the official and accuse the Congress of targeting “Hindu cultural identity". Tejasvi Surya, BJP MP, called the suspension threat “illegal" and said the Congress is “anti-Hindu." “The Constitution allows RSS to hold its activities. We don’t need permission from his father," said CT Ravi.

October 16: Kharge said the state was mulling new laws against the RSS and has decided to strengthen the existing laws of non-participation of government employees in any political activities. Surya hit back at Kharge’s demand to ban the RSS, saying any attempt to do so is “futile" as the organisation has only grown stronger every time it has been banned in the past.

October 17-18: Praveen Kumar was officially suspended for violating government employee conduct rules by marching in RSS uniform. The suspension is issued by the Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Department. Surya launched a legal aid initiative to defend Praveen Kumar, calling the action “constitutional overreach". Kharge mocks Surya on X, calling him a “WhatsApp graduate."

‘Not the first ban’

Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) leader Rajiv Tuli on Sunday told ANI that the Congress’s animosity towards the RSS is “old, not new" recalling that former Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru had once said to “crush" the organisation in 1948, and accused the party of being against “Indianness, nationalism, and Hindutva".

“Congress’ animosity with RSS is old, not new. In 1948, one week before Mahatma ji’s assassination, in his letter to a CM, Nehru ji said – Why is action not being taken against the RSS…He had said, ‘I will crush the RSS.’ The then Sarsanghchalak, responded with ‘I will crush this crushing mentality’…In 1948, they pressured Sardar Patel to ban RSS. 28 days after the ban, Sardar Patel wrote a letter to Nehruji that he had come to know that RSS had no involvement in the assassination of Mahatma Gandhi.

“Later, the ban was revoked. The ban was reimposed in 1975 and then revoked in 1977…So, first Nehruji, then Indira Gandhi and then Narasimha Rao banned RSS thrice. They had to revoke the ban later…You can see the condition of Congress today…The Congress of AU Hume is against Indianness, nationalism and Hindutva sanatana…They opposed it earlier too and they oppose it now as well," he added.

What happened in HC on Sunday?

The judge asked the petitioner whether it would be possible to hold the march on an alternative date or time, to which the petitioner’s counsel submitted that November 2 would be suitable.

“In view of the submissions, the petitioner shall furnish a fresh application with details of the route, place, and time, along with the responses to the queries raised earlier…the application shall be submitted to the Deputy Commissioner of Kalaburagi district with a copy to the Taluka Executive Magistrate and the police," the court said.

It further asked the authorities to consider the application and submit the report to the court on October 24.

No order is passed in this petition on merits and the same shall be considered on receipt of the report, it added.

The petition initially sought direction to the authorities to consider the application seeking permission to hold a route march on Sunday. An interlocutory application (IA) was filed during the hearing today, seeking to amend the petition, informing the court that the authorities have denied the permission.

Authorities in Chittapur, the home constituency of Minister Kharge, have denied permission for the RSS route march on Sunday, citing the possibility of disruption of peace and law and order.

The Tahasildar of Chittapur, cited that the Bhim Army organisation has also informed, through a letter, that they too will conduct a route march on the same route on October 19.

The state government too on Saturday issued an order making “prior permission" mandatory for any private organisation, association or a group of persons to use government property or premises.

With PTI Inputs

News explainers Why RSS Had To Move Karnataka High Court For A March In Chittapur: The Sequence Of Events Explained

Read More