Kharge questions RSS role in freedom struggle, defends public property Bill

Home Minister Priyank Kharge continued his criticism of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) by questioning its role in India's freedom struggle and asking the organization to name a single mass movement it had participated in. In Kalaburagi city, Mr. Kharge stated that the freedom struggle was characterized by numerous mass movements involving people from various backgrounds.

He challenged the RSS to provide names of even 50 Congress members who sacrificed their lives during the struggle, in contrast to his ability to provide names of 500 Congress martyrs. Mr. Kharge also addressed Vinayak Damodar Savarkar, claiming that the RSS leaders were unaware of the circumstances surrounding the "Veer" title given to him and asserting that Savarkar himself adopted the honorific.

The minister questioned the RSS's role in communal violence following Partition and asked what contribution it had made to protect people during the riots. Addressing the legal status of the RSS, Kharge stated that an organization could not be banned without first establishing its legal status and challenged the organization's claim to be unbannable, asserting that it was not formally registered.

Kharge dismissed BJP's claims that the proposed Karnataka Regulation of Use of Government Premises and Public Property Bill, 2026, was aimed at the RSS, pointing out that the BJP had not identified any specific organization in the Bill. He emphasized that the proposed law aimed to regulate the use of public property in accordance with Supreme Court and High Court directives, while still allowing organizations to conduct activities on private premises.

Kharge reiterated that it was not about banning any organization but ensuring public spaces were used in a regulated manner, and the provisions would apply to organizations regardless of their registration status.