Karnataka’s Minister for IT and Biotechnology Priyank Kharge, alongside senior Congress leader B.K. Hariprasad, raised serious concerns on Wednesday regarding the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh’s (RSS) unregistered status and the sources of its substantial funding. Their pointed accusations, articulated during separate press interactions, suggest that the RSS deliberately avoids registration to evade compliance with Indian laws and financial oversight, intensifying a contentious debate about the organization’s operations.

In Bengaluru, Kharge challenged the RSS’s legitimacy, stating, “Produce the RSS’s registration documents to prove it is a registered entity, and the matter is settled.” He questioned the origins of the organization’s resources, which support its extensive activities, including uniforms, marches, musical instruments, and construction of large facilities. “If unregistered, how are these funds legally obtained?” Kharge asked, alleging that the RSS’s unregistered status is a strategic move to bypass obligations under the Societies Registration Act, Companies Act, and Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act. These laws mandate tax payments, financial disclosures, and transparency regarding domestic and foreign donations, requirements the RSS allegedly sidesteps to operate without scrutiny.

Hariprasad, speaking in Delhi, echoed these sentiments, questioning why the RSS, unlike registered political entities like the Congress and BJP, lacks formal registration. He highlighted the organization’s Vijayadashami “Guru Dakshina” practice, where anonymous cash donations are collected in envelopes during rallies. “For a century, they’ve gathered unaccounted billions,” he claimed, questioning whether agencies like the Enforcement Directorate, Income Tax Department, or CBI have ever investigated these funds. Hariprasad pointed to the RSS’s ₹700 crore headquarters, demanding clarity on its funding and labeling its operations as potentially unlawful without registration.

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The accusations come amid Kharge’s ongoing campaign to restrict RSS activities in public spaces and discipline government employees linked to the organization, as outlined in his recent correspondence with Chief Minister Siddaramaiah. The RSS, established in 1925 to promote Hindu unity, has faced historical bans but maintains it is a cultural, voluntary body, not an NGO requiring registration.

Responding to the allegations, BJP leader and former Deputy Chief Minister C.N. Ashwath Narayan defended the RSS, asserting that not all organizations need formal registration to operate legally. “In a democracy, individuals and groups can function constitutionally without registration. The RSS advances social, religious, cultural, and educational goals for nation-building,” he stated, dismissing the Congress’s claims as politically driven.

This confrontation unfolds as Karnataka navigates a delicate political balance, with Congress holding a narrow majority and the BJP leveraging RSS support ahead of local elections. The RSS’s unregistered status, upheld by a 2017 Bombay High Court ruling, remains a flashpoint, raising questions about accountability for an organization influencing millions. As Congress presses for transparency, the debate could precipitate legal or legislative action, challenging the RSS’s operational opacity in India’s democratic framework.

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