Priyank Kharge tells RSS to seek formal police permission for Karnataka Vijayadashami marches

Karnataka Home Minister Priyank Kharge has instructed the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh to submit formal applications and await official police clearance before holding its Vijayadashami route marches across the state on 25 October.

Writing publicly on Tuesday, Kharge said that letters delivered to local police stations notifying them of planned events do not constitute valid legal permission. He urged the organisation to follow standard procedures applicable to all civic groups to ensure orderly governance and proper security management.

Formal procedures required for public events

Kharge made public two recent communications submitted by local RSS units to Bengaluru police stations, which asked officers to cooperate and make necessary arrangements for planned marches.

The minister stated that managing large public assemblies requires systematic state preparation, including personnel deployment, traffic coordination, and civic logistics. Pointing to figures from the RSS's own annual report, which recorded 562 route marches involving over 221,000 participants across Karnataka during the 2025–26 period, Kharge emphasised that the state administration needs proper lead time to ensure public safety.

BJP response and ongoing legal debate

Bharatiya Janata Party spokesperson S Prakash responded to the minister by citing a recent Madras High Court decision from 16 October that permitted RSS route marches in Tamil Nadu on 25 October and 1 November after police had initially refused clearance. Prakash suggested state authorities should respect judicial precedents regarding civic marches.

The exchange reflects broader discussions in Karnataka over the regulation of large gatherings on public grounds. The state Cabinet previously approved legislation in August requiring prior administrative clearance for events held on public property.