Karnataka minister Kharge stresses ‘accountability’ in RSS legal status row

Karnataka's Home Minister, Priyank Kharge, has called on the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) to disclose its legal status, assets, and financial information. In a recent X post, Kharge questioned the RSS's current legal standing and the entity that governs it. He emphasized that while the RSS's existence is not in question, accountability is a pressing concern.

Kharge is among several Congress leaders who have urged the RSS to register under appropriate laws and disclose its funding sources. The RSS, according to Santhosh, has been unregistered since before India's independence and registration doesn't determine its existence. In response, Kharge challenged the RSS to answer critical questions about its legal identity, ownership of assets, and the operation of its bank accounts.

He pointed out that an organization claiming a national presence should be able to answer basic accountability questions.

This debate also relates to a recent Karnataka law, the Regulation of Use of Government Premises and Public Property Bill 2026, which aims to restrict the use of government premises by groups like the RSS without prior authorization.