Bengaluru, Oct 20 – Karnataka’s Minister for Rural Development, Public Relations, IT and BT, Priyank Kharge, told reporters in the state capital that any event held in a public place, including prayers like Namaz, must get official permission. The minister said the rule applies to everyone—government officials, media, and private groups alike.
Speaking to journalists after a Monday press conference, Kharge highlighted the new state order which requires organisations to apply for a licence before using public grounds for any gathering. “The order does not single out any party, religion or caste,” he said. “Everyone, including the media and me, must follow the process. Even our former Minister K. N. Rajanna and BJP State President B. Y. Vijayendra must seek approval.”
The minister further clarified that the directive is about fairness and safety, not about restricting faith or politics. He called out recent comments by former minister Rajanna, who questioned why the law is not enforced when Namaz is offered in public areas. “Our law is clear: permission is mandatory for all private organisations,” Kharge added. “If a law is not practical it remains only on paper.”
Kharge also criticized the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) for allegedly ignoring the filing requirement. “They have refused to provide documents that prove they are a registered body,” he said. He accused RSS leaders of holding a foot march in Chittapur town without the proper notice. “When other groups add items like sticks, the government steps in to keep order,” the minister said.
The RSS has sought permission for a foot march in Chittapur, the minister’s own assembly constituency. Kharge confirmed that the group would be allowed to march if they submit the necessary paperwork. He added that the state has already rejected three other applications, including one that requested to carry sticks, and that each request will be considered on its own merits.
Kharge addressed a broader disagreement over the RSS’s participation in government services. “The central government has passed a law allowing public servants to join RSS activities, but Karnataka’s rules differ,” he said. He stressed that a state government cannot override the central decision.
When asked about Union Minister H. D. Kumaraswamy’s claim that RSS has been active in Karnataka for centuries without problems, Kharge replied, “Kumaraswamy himself wrote an editorial in a leading Kannada newspaper calling the RSS poison. Former Prime Minister Deve Gowda called for a ban on the RSS and ABVP. This is not a new post. The JD(S) is not the secular voice it once claimed to be.”
Kharge urged BJP leaders to act responsibly. “They should enroll children in schools to protect cows, not just talk about it,” he said. “When they talk about my wife and my family, they still refuse to show proof of registration. Even Prime Minister Narendra Modi has praised the RSS. We are simply asking for transparency.”
Finally, Kharge reiterated that his recent letter to ban RSS activities in public places also cited other organisations. “The order is unchanged, the rule is the same: any group must seek permission before hosting an event in public spaces.”
With this statement, Karnataka’s minister wants to make it clear that the state’s new permission policy is indiscriminate and applies to all groups, regardless of size or influence. The central message? Anyone, from small community clubs to large political or religious organisations, must submit a clearance request for any public gathering.
Source: ianslive
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