Karnataka chief minister Siddaramaiah on Wednesday came out in strong defence of his cabinet colleague, IT-BT and rural development minister Priyank Kharge, who recently urged the state government to prohibit all Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) activities within government premises. The chief minister’s remarks came amid political uproar over Kharge’s statement and the circulation of a purported audio clip containing abusive remarks against the minister and his family.

Speaking to reporters in Mysuru, Siddaramaiah asserted that there was “nothing wrong” in Kharge’s appeal for a ban, drawing parallels with similar restrictions already imposed in Tamil Nadu. “He has only said that RSS activities should not be allowed on government premises and that a ban like in Tamil Nadu should be considered. What is wrong in that?” Siddaramaiah said.

The chief minister also confirmed that he had directed the Chief Secretary to study the legal framework and procedural mechanisms through which Tamil Nadu implemented restrictions on RSS gatherings. “I have instructed the Chief Secretary to collect details on how the ban was enforced there. Once we receive the report, we will examine it,” he said. He further assured that security would be provided to Kharge in light of the alleged threats.

Condemning the abuse directed at his minister, Siddaramaiah blamed “evil forces” for resorting to intimidation. “Such intimidation tactics are the work of evil forces. Priyank will not be scared, and neither will I,” he said.

Political Storm Over RSS Ban Demand

The controversy began on Sunday, when Priyank Kharge addressed a letter to the chief minister urging him to impose a statewide ban on all RSS activities conducted on government-owned properties, including parks, schools, and public institutions. “In the interest of the well-being of the country’s children, youth, the public, and society as a whole, I earnestly request that a ban be imposed on all types of activities conducted by the RSS, whether under the name of shakha, sanghik, or baithak on the premises of government properties,” the letter stated.

Kharge’s request followed reports that the RSS had organized over 100 events across Bengaluru that week, many of them allegedly in public or government spaces. The minister argued that such activities were inconsistent with the secular and constitutional character of state institutions.

Kharge reiterated that his appeal was not against individuals or faith, but against the “ideological corruption” being spread among youth. “Our fight is not against people, but against this dirty mentality being spread by the RSS; it is a fight against evil forces that are brainwashing the innocent and polluting their minds,” he said.

Kharge’s Allegations and Social Media Row

Earlier in the day, Kharge took to X (formerly Twitter) to share a video message featuring an audio clip in which an unidentified man is allegedly heard making obscene remarks and threats against him and his family, including his mother. In his post, Kharge said the clip exemplified the kind of “filth” he had accused the RSS of spreading.

“I said that RSS is working to fill the minds of young people and children with filth, here is a small sample of just what that filth looks like,” he wrote. “Is it the culture of the shakhas to insult mothers and sisters by calling them names and insulting them in the most despicable way?”

Kharge said he would refrain from filing a police complaint against the man in the audio clip, as doing so would “only hurt this person’s life and cause no harm to those who pushed him into such a state of mind.” He accused the RSS and its affiliates of exploiting vulnerable youth for political ends while the children of BJP leaders “build their bright futures.”

“While the children of BJP leaders are building their bright future, children from poor and disadvantaged families are being used as sacrificial goats to abuse and threaten others,” he said.

Targeting BJP Leadership

In his post and subsequent statements, Kharge directly challenged senior BJP figures, including state president B.Y. Vijayendra and leaders R. Ashoka, C.T. Ravi, V. Sunil Kumar, Pratap Simha, and Chalavadi Narayanaswamy, asking whether they would tolerate similar abuse directed at the mothers of Prime Minister Narendra Modi or RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat.

“Would BJP leaders find it acceptable if such abuses were hurled at the mothers of Modi and Mohan Bhagwat?” Kharge asked. He said his stand was guided by ideology and compassion, not fear or political opportunism. “If they thought I would be rattled by these threats and insults, they are delusional. Mine is not just power-centric politics—it is ideological politics, people-centric politics that strives to bring innocent youth out of this vicious circle,” he said.

Congress-BJP War of Words

Siddaramaiah’s defence of Kharge drew sharp criticism from the BJP, which accused the Congress government of promoting divisive politics and attempting to “criminalize nationalist organizations.” BJP leaders argued that the RSS had played an instrumental role in nation-building and that banning its activities would amount to suppressing freedom of association.

In response, Siddaramaiah hit back, saying BJP leaders had no moral ground to question his government’s commitment to democracy. “During elections, they said, ‘If you have the courage, come face us,’ but they were defeated. If they are truly powerful, let them impose a ban on the RSS themselves,” he retorted.

Political observers say the controversy has reignited old ideological tensions between the Congress and the RSS-BJP bloc in Karnataka. While the Congress leadership maintains that the government must preserve the neutrality of public institutions, the BJP has accused the ruling party of engaging in vendetta politics.

Broader Context: The RSS and the State

The debate over RSS activities in government premises is not new. Tamil Nadu, for example, has long maintained restrictions on political or religious gatherings in public institutions, citing public order concerns. Supporters of the Karnataka proposal argue that such measures ensure government neutrality, while critics see them as an infringement on civil liberties.

The RSS, the ideological parent of the BJP, routinely holds daily shakhas (training sessions) across India, some of which occur in open spaces belonging to the state. These gatherings are considered central to the organization’s grassroots outreach.

Kharge’s letter and Siddaramaiah’s backing signal a willingness within the Karnataka Congress government to revisit the question of whether such activities align with the secular ethos of state administration. The chief minister’s decision to study Tamil Nadu’s precedent suggests that any future move will likely be based on legal and administrative considerations rather than an immediate political decree.

As the controversy unfolds, both camps appear to be standing firm. For the Congress, the issue represents a larger ideological stance against what it views as the “saffronization” of public life. For the BJP, it is another flashpoint in the ongoing battle over the legitimacy of the RSS in India’s political and cultural landscape.