Chittapur, Karnataka – The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) conducted a route march in Chittapur on Sunday following clearance from the state high court, ending a prolonged legal and political tussle over permission for the event. The march, which drew around three hundred uniformed volunteers and fifty band members, took place amid heightened security and sharp political criticism from local MLA and state minister Priyank Kharge.

The high court’s intervention on Saturday instructed the government to uphold the district authorities’ decision to grant conditional approval for the march, effectively settling a dispute that had attracted sustained attention in recent weeks. Kharge, who oversees IT-BT, rural development, and panchayati raj portfolios in the state government, had repeatedly voiced concerns over the RSS’s compliance with law and procedure.

Kharge, speaking on Sunday in Kalaburagi, clarified his position. “I have never opposed the route march. All I said was that permission should be taken. They have a habit of not following the rule of law. Now they are following the rules. Let them do it,” he said. The minister emphasized that his objections were procedural, related to attempts by the organisation to carry out activities on government land without prior approval. “We have asked them to follow the law and Constitution, which they are doing for the first time in 100 years,” he added.

The march was originally planned within Kharge’s constituency, but the district administration initially denied permission, triggering the RSS to seek judicial intervention. The event thus became a flashpoint, drawing attention due to the political prominence of the Kharge family and Chittapur’s history of sharply defined ideological divisions.

The march commenced at the Bajaj Kalyan Mantap at around 3:00 PM and covered roughly one and a half kilometres. Volunteers proceeded along the route for a little over a kilometre before returning to the starting point. The RSS characterized the event as part of its broader organisational activities and outreach.

Security arrangements for the event were extensive, reflecting both the court-mandated conditions and concerns over possible political or communal tensions. Police cordoned off the starting point well in advance, and bomb detection units and sniffer dogs were deployed for inspections. Surveillance cameras were placed along the entire route, and drone monitoring was conducted to track the movement of participants.

Senior police officers, including the superintendent, additional superintendent, and deputy superintendent, were stationed at key locations along the march route. Over eight hundred personnel from local law enforcement were deployed across the town, supplemented by additional forces from the State Reserve Police, the District Armed Reserve, and approximately 250 Home Guards in sensitive areas. Authorities also held preparatory route inspections and conducted consultations with local community leaders to ensure smooth conduct of the event.

The careful planning underscored the sensitivities surrounding the march in a constituency marked by sharply drawn political and ideological lines. For Kharge, the focus remained on adherence to legal conditions rather than opposition to the event itself. “If they do not follow the conditions, they will face punishment as per the law. What is the problem here? Earlier, they used to communicate; now they are seeking permission,” he stated.

The event concluded without any reported incidents, but it highlighted the continuing friction between the RSS and local political representatives, particularly in regions where ideological allegiances are closely contested. Observers noted that the high court’s decision, coupled with the meticulous security preparations, allowed the march to take place while ensuring compliance with legal and safety requirements.

Sunday’s event in Chittapur serves as a reminder of the complex interplay between political authority, judicial oversight, and the operational autonomy of socio-political organisations like the RSS. The march is likely to be remembered not just for its scale but also for the legal precedent it set regarding permission and compliance for public demonstrations in politically sensitive areas.