Priyank Kharge tells RSS: seek permission, not just inform police, for marches
File photo: Ministry of Tourism (GODL-India), via Wikimedia Commons
Karnataka Home Minister Priyank Kharge on October 20-21, 2026 told the RSS to apply for formal permission for its Vijayadashami route marches instead of only informing police.
What Happened
Karnataka Home Minister Priyank Kharge has asked the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) to apply for formal permission for its Vijayadashami route marches in the state, saying that sending letters to inform the police is not the same as getting approval. Speaking on October 20 and again on Wednesday, October 21, 2026, Kharge said the organisation should fill in the prescribed application form, give the necessary details and wait for permission. "They should not merely provide information. They should please seek permission so that the necessary arrangements can be made," he said on Wednesday. The marches are planned for October 25.
Key Facts
- Kharge asked the RSS to obtain formal permission from the competent authorities for its route marches, not just notify police stations.
- He shared letters from RSS units to Bengaluru police stations, including one dated October 15 from the Kamalanagar unit informing Mahalakshmi Layout police of a procession starting at 9 am.
- Another letter referred to a route march in Laggere between 9 am and 12.30 pm.
- Citing the RSS's own annual report, Kharge said it had held 562 route marches across Karnataka with 2,21,963 uniformed participants.
- He said police need time to plan deployment, traffic and security for gatherings of that size.
- The RSS has maintained that registration of everything is not necessary; no direct RSS reply to this demand had been reported by October 21.
- Reports differ on whether his first statement was made on Tuesday or Wednesday.
Why It Matters
Route marches, called path sanchalan, are processions in which RSS volunteers in uniform walk through towns and cities, especially around Vijayadashami, the day the organisation was founded in 1925. In many places, organisers inform the local police so that traffic can be managed. The question raised by Kharge is whether informing the police is enough, or whether the organisation must apply for and receive formal permission, as other groups holding public processions are usually required to do.
The minister's argument is about public order and administration. According to him, the scale of the marches, with hundreds of events and lakhs of participants in the state, means police must know details well in advance to arrange staff, divert traffic and ensure safety. Asking for an application, he said, would let the authorities make the "necessary arrangements".
The issue also has a political side. Kharge belongs to the Congress, which governs Karnataka. The RSS, for its part, has argued that not everything in India needs to be registered. Whether route marches go ahead on October 25, and under what conditions, now depends on how the RSS units and the police handle the applications.
For citizens, the practical question is about road use and safety on the day of the marches. Clear permission processes usually come with set routes and timings published in advance, which helps residents and commuters plan.
| Point | Detail |
|---|---|
| Who | Karnataka Home Minister Priyank Kharge |
| Demand | RSS must apply for formal permission, not only inform police |
| Event | Vijayadashami route marches planned for October 25 |
| Scale cited | 562 route marches, 2,21,963 participants, per RSS annual report |
| RSS view | Registration of everything is not necessary |
Impact
Short-term: RSS units in Karnataka will have to decide whether to apply for formal permission before October 25, and police will plan arrangements accordingly. Any refusal or dispute could lead to a stand-off or a court petition.
Long-term: The episode could lead to a clearer, uniform procedure in Karnataka for all organisations that hold large processions, setting out when informing the police is enough and when formal permission is needed.
Who is affected: RSS volunteers and units in Karnataka, the state police, residents and commuters on march routes, and other organisations that hold public processions.
Key Takeaway
Karnataka's Home Minister wants the RSS to formally apply for permission for its October 25 route marches, arguing that informing police is not enough, while the RSS has held that not everything needs registration.
Questions and Answers
What did Priyank Kharge say about RSS route marches?
On October 20 and 21, 2026, Karnataka Home Minister Priyank Kharge said the RSS should apply for formal permission for its Vijayadashami route marches, using the prescribed form, instead of only sending letters to inform police stations.
When are the RSS route marches in Karnataka?
The Vijayadashami route marches are planned for October 25, 2026, according to reports.
Why does the minister want formal permission?
Kharge said police need time to plan deployment, traffic and security. He cited the RSS's annual report, which recorded 562 route marches across Karnataka with 2,21,963 uniformed participants.
What is the RSS position?
The RSS has maintained that registration of everything is not necessary. No direct response from the RSS to the minister's latest demand had been reported by October 21, 2026.
Disclaimer: Prepared by the Peepals newsroom from publicly available sources with AI assistance. Information is accurate to the best of our knowledge at the time of publication and may change. Images may be representative. Not professional advice. Report an error via our contact page.
Sourced and fact-checked by the Peepals Global Editorial Team
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