RSS Gathering Needs No Official Permission, Says Karnataka Minister Priyank Kharge
Priyank Kharge says RSS meetings need no permission.
Karnataka Home Minister Priyank Kharge on Friday said the three-day Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) meeting being held in Belagavi does not require government permission as it is a private event. However, he clarified that any procession or public gathering organised outside the venue would require prior approval from the police after an assessment of the prevailing law and order situation. Belagavi is hosting the annual Akhil Bharatiya Prant Pracharak Baithak from July 10 to 12, one of the RSS's most significant organisational meetings.
The event has brought together RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat and senior office-bearers from across the country to deliberate on organisational matters and future programmes. The annual gathering is expected to be attended by national, regional and state-level functionaries, including convenors of 32 affiliated organisations and members of the RSS executive council. Addressing reporters, Priyank Kharge drew a distinction between private events and activities held in public spaces. "What is happening in Belagavi is a private programme of the RSS.
If they want to get on to the streets and hold a procession or organise a large gathering, then they must obtain government permission. The police will give permission after checking the local law and order situation," he said. Kharge's remarks came amid discussions over security arrangements and administrative procedures for the high-profile event, which has attracted senior leaders of the organisation from across India. The minister reiterated that the state government was following established legal procedures applicable to all organisations and that there was no requirement for official permission to conduct a private meeting within a designated venue.
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The meeting is being attended by several of the RSS's top functionaries alongside Mohan Bhagwat. Among those present are Sarkaryavah Dattatreya Hosabale and Sah Sarkaryavahas Krishna Gopal, C.R. Mukunda, Arun Kumar, Ramdatt, Alok Kumar and Atul Limaye. The annual conclave is expected to review the organisation's activities over the past year and discuss strategies for expanding its outreach through its network of affiliated bodies.
According to officials, Bhagwat is expected to remain in Belagavi for around a week, participating in internal meetings and organisational programmes beyond the three-day conference. The Akhil Bharatiya Prant Pracharak Baithak is considered one of the RSS's most important annual gatherings, where senior leaders assess ongoing initiatives, coordinate activities across different regions and deliberate on matters concerning the organisation's future course. Authorities have made necessary security arrangements for the event while maintaining that any activity extending into public spaces will be subject to the usual permissions and policing protocols.
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