Bengaluru/Mysuru, 13 Oct

The BJP came down heavily against Karnataka IT Minister Priyank Kharge's request to ban the RSS, terming it the “height of foolishness” and claiming that such a move cannot take effect because majority of the government belongs to the ideology.

"Previous Congress Presidents, such as Jawaharlal Nehru, Indira Gandhi, and Sonia Gandhi, everybody tried (to ban RSS), but they were unable to defend their actions,” Union Minister Pralhad Joshi said on X.

“Restricting entry in certain places won't change much because most states, ministers, the majority of the MLAs, and MPs belong to this ideology. From minister to Prime Minister to Chief Minister, many people are active members of the RSS."

"The Muslim League was responsible for the division of the nation. People should understand the level of appeasement. They (Congress leaders) are sympathetic to the Muslim League, support PFI and SFI, and oppose nationalist forces because Congress never believes in nationalist ideology," he added.

Meanwhile, Krishnaraja MLA TS Srivatsa of BJP said Priyank’s letter was “the height of foolishness”, but Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s reply to it was “even more foolish”.

Srivatsa, an active member of the RSS said that the organisation has been conducting its activities openly in full public view, not secretly.

Responding to Priyank’s question on why the RSS held sticks he said, he said that RSS swayam sevaks hold sticks or lathis as part of its traditional uniform and training purposes to instill bravery, discipline among swayam sevaks and not for fighting.

Meanwhile, BJP leader CT Ravi alleged that the Congress party of "supports terrorism" and "eliminates patriotism", while the RSS espouses the values of nationalism and service to the nation.