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The Karnataka government has asked Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat to send a representative to explain the legal position of the organisation. Home Minister Priyank Kharge has written a letter to Mohan Bhagwat and officially asked for the list of office bearers. Priyank Kharge has asked how such a big organization is working without formal registration.
 
Priyank Kharge, citing the 2025-26 report of the All India Representative Assembly, said that the presence of the organization is more in Karnataka. There are 4,127 shakhas held every day, 1,389 weekly meetings and 60 monthly congregations. The Sangh takes out 562 route marches in Karnataka, involving 2.21 lakh uniformed workers.

What questions is Karnataka Home Minister asking RSS?

Karnataka Home Minister Priyakan Kharge said, ‘Such a big organization cannot be run in a private or informal manner. Many questions arise in this, such as legal status, accountability, sources of funding, expenditure, assets and permission for public programmes.

‘RSS should register itself as an organization’

Priyank Kharge said that if RSS talks about nationalism, discipline and duty, then it itself should show transparency by upholding these values. He has appealed to the RSS to register itself legally in its centenary year, make its activities and income-expenditure public.

What is Priyank Kharge asking from RSS?

Priyank Kharge has said that the Sangh should also pay all the taxes. The government has sought a number of information from the RSS, including legal basis, sources of donations, expenditure details, assets, tax payments and permissions for public events.

What have other parties said?

On the Karnataka government’s decision, DMK leader TKS Elangovan said, ‘RSS is an organization which should be registered. If they are not registering then it is a violation of the rules. Any social organization should be registered.

What are people saying?

RSS supporters have said that the Sangh’s penetration is deepening in Karnataka. Thousands of shakhas are organized every day, which is irritating the Congress. Hindutva people are coming into the organization influenced by the ideology of the Sangh. Sheetal Chopra has written on X, ‘Do you know that Congress is targeting RSS in Karnataka. Every day the Sangh organizes 4,127 shakhas, 1389 weekly meetings and 60 congregations across the state. Congress is afraid of this.

Why does Congress raise questions on the existence of RSS?

After the assassination of Mahatma Gandhi in 1948, the then Union Minister Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel had imposed the ban. The ban was lifted on 11 July 1949. When Emergency was imposed in the country, Indira Gandhi banned this organization, the ban was lifted in 1977. After the Babri demolition, PV Narasimha Rao’s government had increased some strictness in 1992.

Analysts say that the stance of Congress has always been against the Sangh. Sangh calls itself a religious-social organization, Congress calls it a Hindutva organization. Congress says that social rift is increasing due to polarization of RSS and BJP. Sangh is a right-wing organization, which is inclined towards Hindutva. Whenever Congress opposes the Sangh, minority voters support the Congress’ stand. Congress is strengthening its vote bank by opposing the Sangh.