Bengaluru, 19 Oct 

Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar on Sunday defended the state government's recent directive making prior permission mandatory for private organisations to use government property or premises. He said the move was not targeted at any specific group, including the RSS, and was based on earlier decisions by the previous BJP regime.

“We have not named anyone. The order is a continuation of rules introduced when Jagadish Shettar was the chief minister. We have only redefined them,” Shivakumar told reporters, denying allegations that the Congress government was curbing RSS activities.

The government’s order, issued on Saturday, followed a Cabinet decision prompted by a letter from Panchayat Raj and IT/BT Minister Priyank Kharge. In his letter to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah dated 4 October, Kharge alleged that RSS shakhas were being conducted in government and aided schools, where "slogans are shouted and negative ideas are instilled in children."

Meanwhile, the opposition BJP accused the Congress of trying to divert public attention from its failures by creating controversy over RSS events. Welcoming the Karnataka High Court’s directive asking the RSS to file a fresh application for its route march in Chittapur on 2 November, BJP leaders alleged the state government was acting with political motives.

Union Minister and senior BJP leader Pralhad Joshi said, “We welcome the High Court’s decision. We believe in the Constitution and judiciary.”

Leader of Opposition R Ashoka accused the Congress of arrogance and claimed the government was showing bias by denying RSS permissions while allowing Friday prayers to block roads in Bengaluru. “This issue is being created to hide failures and the government’s inability to attract industry,” he added.

JD(S) leader and Union Minister HD Kumaraswamy echoed similar sentiments, alleging the Congress was using the RSS issue, via Priyank Kharge, to deflect attention from governance lapses.