Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has directed the Chief Secretary to review the action taken by the Tamil Nadu government to ban the activities of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) at government places.
His statement comes after Minister Priyank Kharge wrote a letter to him urging a similar ban in Karnataka, citing the precedent set by Tamil Nadu.
Siddaramaiah told reporters, “The RSS organization is using government places for its activities. Minister Priyank Kharge has written a letter saying that since it has been banned in Tamil Nadu, it should be banned here also. I have directed the Chief Secretary to consider and review the action taken by Tamil Nadu regarding the ban on RSS activities at government places.”
The move comes after Karnataka Minister Priyank Kharge urged Chief Minister Siddaramaiah to ban RSS activities in government schools, colleges and state-owned temples. He had accused the organization of “brainwashing young minds” and promoting “philosophies against the Constitution”.
Criticizing the RSS, he said, “Hindus are in danger, have more children, yet its members remain bachelors. Why can’t they marry and practice what they preach?”
Speaking to ANI, Kharge said, “I have requested the CM that RSS activities should not be allowed in government schools and colleges.”
He said, “The activities of the RSS brainwash the youth, which is not good for the country or the society. I have written a letter to the Chief Minister asking him not to allow RSS activities or their meetings, whether in archaeological temples or government temples. Let them do it in private houses… We have no problem with it, but you cannot use government grounds for brainwashing on a large scale.”
He said, “If this philosophy was so good, then why the children of BJP leaders do not join it? How many BJP leaders’ children have taken Trishul initiation? How many BJP leaders’ children are cow protectors and religion protectors? How many BJP leaders’ children come out openly during any communal riot? The philosophy of RSS is only for the poor.”
Meanwhile, the Chief Minister also touched upon the issue of representation of the Valmiki community in the state cabinet. Responding to questions about a possible cabinet post following the resignation of an MLA from the community, Siddaramaiah said the issue would be considered during the upcoming cabinet reshuffle.
Siddaramaiah said, “In the context of the cabinet reshuffle to be held in the coming days, it will be considered whether members of the Valmiki community will be given representation or not.”
Siddaramaiah hosted a dinner for all his cabinet colleagues on Monday. The meeting took place a few weeks before the completion of two and a half years of the Congress government in the state.
While there was speculation of an early cabinet reshuffle in the state, Karnataka minister Ramalinga Reddy said the only agenda of the dinner meeting was the Bruhat Bengaluru Municipal Corporation (BBMP), District Panchayat (ZP) and Taluk Panchayat (TP) elections.
Asked whether the performance of ministers was discussed, he said no such assessment was made in the meeting.
“The only agenda was elections. For the people of Bengaluru, for the BBMP and for the rural people, Zilla Parishad/TP,” Ramalinga Reddy told reporters after the meeting.
This meeting took place at a time when supporters of Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar within the Congress are adamant that he will be the Chief Minister. After winning the 2023 assembly elections in the state, DK Shivakumar and Siddaramaiah were contenders for the chief ministerial post. After several rounds of discussions, the Congress high command selected Siddaramaiah for the post of Chief Minister. At that time there were reports that this decision had been agreed upon after the rotation of the post of Chief Minister between Shivakumar and Siddaramaiah.
However, the central leadership of the Congress never publicly acknowledged the existence of such an arrangement. The Congress central leadership has silenced Shivakumar’s claims by issuing notices to his supporters to stop them from making any comments on the issue.
Apart from this, party general secretary in-charge of Karnataka Randeep Surjewala has also dismissed these speculations as baseless.
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has said on several occasions that he wants to complete his five-year tenure as Chief Minister. DK Shivakumar also cautioned any Congress leader from publicly praising the change of leadership in the party. He also said that he would follow the decision of the party high command in this regard.