Overview

• Priyank Kharge’s October 4 letter, released by the CMO, urges prohibiting RSS shakhas, sanghiks and baithaks in government institutions, parks, temples under the Muzrai Department and other public grounds.
• Kharge alleged RSS gatherings spread divisive ideas among children and youth and include aggressive lathi drills conducted without police permission.
• Chief Minister Siddaramaiah marked the letter for 'immediate necessary' or 'appropriate' action and forwarded it to Chief Secretary Shalini Rajneesh for review, with no ban order issued yet.
• RSS centenary route marches in Bengaluru proceeded, with reported starts from a BBMP-run school playground in Shankarapuram and a BBMP playground in Subramanya Nagar.
• BJP figures attacked the move as political and circulated a 2002 photo of Mallikarjun Kharge at an RSS event, while some Congress leaders, including Yathindra Siddaramaiah, backed restrictions and likened the RSS ideology to the Taliban.