Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar has ignited a political storm by defending a government order mandating prior permission for private organizations to use public premises, a move widely perceived as targeting the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS). Speaking to reporters on October 19, 2025, in Bengaluru, Shivakumar insisted the decision merely enforces existing orders from the previous BJP regime under former Chief Minister Jagadish Shettar, dismissing allegations that the Congress-led government is singling out the RSS.

"We haven’t named anyone specifically. These are orders from the BJP’s time, and we’re just implementing them without changes," Shivakumar stated, attempting to deflect criticism that the policy aims to curb RSS activities, including its signature route marches. The controversial order, issued on October 18, 2025, stems from a Cabinet decision prompted by a letter from Panchayat Raj and IT/BT Minister Priyank Kharge to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah. In his October 4 letter, Kharge, the son of Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, accused the RSS of conducting 'shakhas' in government and government-aided schools and public grounds, alleging these gatherings promote divisive slogans and instill "negative ideas" in young minds.

While the government order avoids directly naming the RSS, its provisions are seen as a strategic move to restrict the organization’s public activities, sparking outrage among BJP leaders and RSS supporters. The BJP has accused the Congress government of hypocrisy, pointing out that the order aligns with policies they claim were never enforced during their tenure. Critics argue the move is a calculated effort to suppress the RSS’s influence in Karnataka, a state where the organization has deep roots and significant political sway.

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Shivakumar’s defense has done little to quell the controversy, with opposition leaders labeling the order an attack on free assembly and ideological freedom. The RSS, a key ideological ally of the BJP, has long been a polarizing force in Karnataka, with its shakhas and marches often drawing both fervent support and fierce opposition. The Congress government’s decision has reignited debates about the balance between public space regulation and political targeting, especially as the state gears up for a heated political season.

The order’s origins trace back to a 2012 directive under Shettar’s BJP government, which required private entities to seek permission for using government properties. By invoking this precedent, Shivakumar aims to shield the Congress from accusations of overreach, but the timing and context have fueled speculation of a deeper political agenda. Kharge’s letter, which explicitly called for a ban on RSS activities in public spaces, has added weight to claims that the policy is less about administrative continuity and more about settling ideological scores.

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