Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Minister Priyank Kharge
Bengaluru: In a significant political development, Karnataka’s Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Minister Priyank Kharge has written to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, urging him to impose a ban on the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and its affiliated organizations from conducting activities, camps, or ideological programs within government schools, hostels, and educational institutions across the state.
In his letter dated October 4, Kharge expressed strong concern over what he described as “ideological infiltration and communal indoctrination” in state-run educational spaces. He emphasized that government institutions must remain secular, neutral, and free from any religious or political influence, particularly those funded by taxpayers.
“In the name of social service, certain organizations are trying to inject communal ideas among children studying in government hostels and schools. This not only violates constitutional values but also threatens the secular fabric of our education system,”
Kharge stated in his letter.
The minister further pointed out that government schools and hostels are meant for inclusive learning, and allowing political or religious organizations to operate within them could lead to divisive tendencies among students.
Kharge urged the Chief Minister to direct district administrations, education officers, and hostel wardens to ensure strict monitoring and immediate action against any such ideological or organizational infiltration.
He also appealed to the government to issue clear guidelines preventing any external entities — including the RSS and its affiliates — from holding cultural, ideological, or training events inside government institutions.
“The government’s primary duty is to protect children from any form of indoctrination and uphold the constitutional principle of secular education,”
Kharge’s letter concluded.
The move has already stirred a sharp political reaction, with Congress leaders backing Kharge’s call as a necessary step to preserve secularism, while BJP leaders have accused the minister of “targeting nationalist organizations for political mileage.”
Kharge’s letter adds fresh momentum to the state’s ongoing ideological tug-of-war, setting the stage for another high-voltage confrontation between the ruling Congress and the opposition BJP in Karnataka.
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