Bengaluru, 25 October

The RSS held route marches at several locations across Bengaluru on Sunday as part of its centenary celebrations and Vijayadashami, with BJP leaders R Ashoka and Chalavadi Narayanaswamy participating in the events.

The marches were also organised in several other districts of Karnataka.

Sources in the RSS said the marches were conducted at many locations across Bengaluru, including Jayanagar and Chamarajpet, amid tight police security to prevent any untoward incidents and maintain law and order.

Former Bengaluru Police Commissioner and BJP leader Bhaskar Rao also participated.

The route march scheduled in Tumakuru was postponed in view of the graduates' constituency election.

In Mulbagal in Kolar district, the event was rescheduled to 31 October, while the march in Chikkaballapur was deferred after the Deputy Commissioner withdrew permission.

The route march in Koppal was also reported to have been postponed. In Kalaburagi, organisers were directed to follow the prescribed route, with restrictions on provocative speeches.

The RSS also planned a route march in Hubballi, followed by a public meeting, sources said.

The events come amid Karnataka Home Minister Priyank Kharge’s insistence that the organisation must obtain permission from the authorities for marches rather than merely informing the police.