BJP challenges Karnataka govt: Ban RSS or stop targeting it, says Vijayendra
Synopsis
Karnataka's political temperature spiked on the eve of Independence Day as BJP state chief B.Y. Vijayendra dared Chief Minister Shivakumar to formally ban the RSS — or stop targeting it — after the Cabinet cleared a new public property bill critics say is aimed squarely at the organisation. A parallel row over a minister skipping the flag-hoisting duty added fuel to what is shaping up as a sharp pre-bypolls confrontation.
Key Takeaways
BJP Karnataka President B.Y.
Vijayendra on 14 August 2025 challenged CM D.K.
Shivakumar to formally ban the RSS or stop targeting it.
The challenge followed the Karnataka Cabinet's approval of the Karnataka Regulation of Use of Government Premises and Public Property Bill, 2026 .
Vijayendra accused Home Minister Priyank Kharge of repeatedly targeting the RSS instead of focusing on core law-and-order duties.
He noted the RSS had survived bans under both Jawaharlal Nehru and Indira Gandhi and emerged stronger each time.
Housing Minister B.Z.
Zameer Ahmed Khan drew criticism for reportedly seeking exemption from hoisting the Tricolour in Vijayanagara district on Independence Day .
Vijayendra called Zameer's move disrespectful to the national flag and to the ministerial office.
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Karnataka State President and MLA B.Y. Vijayendra on Friday, 14 August 2025, accused the Congress-led Karnataka government of orchestrating a systematic campaign to curb Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) activities in the state, challenging Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar and Home Minister Priyank Kharge to formally ban the organisation if they believed it was acting against national interest.
The Trigger: Karnataka's New Public Property Bill
The challenge came a day after the Karnataka Cabinet approved the Karnataka Regulation of Use of Government Premises and Public Property Bill, 2026, which seeks to regulate how private individuals, organisations, associations, and societies use government premises and public property. Vijayendra alleged the legislation, along with reported proposals to make prior permission mandatory for public meetings, was deliberately designed to target the RSS — even though neither the Chief Minister nor the Home Minister had named the organisation explicitly.
'Earlier, the Chief Minister had referred to the RSS prayer in the Assembly, and his stand has now become clear,' Vijayendra said, suggesting the government's intent was transparent despite the absence of direct references.
Vijayendra's Direct Challenge to Shivakumar and Kharge
Vijayendra did not mince words in his counter-offensive. 'Try banning the RSS if he has the courage,' he said, addressing the Chief Minister, and demanded the government publicly list what anti-national activities the organisation had undertaken to justify such targeting.
He reserved particular sharpness for Home Minister Priyank Kharge, accusing him of repeatedly focusing on the RSS rather than discharging his core responsibilities. 'If the Home Minister is so interested in the RSS, he should resign from the Home Minister's post and take charge of a department dedicated to opposing the RSS,' Vijayendra said sarcastically.
Vijayendra defended the RSS as an organisation that has completed a century of existence and has consistently worked to promote patriotism, nationalism, and a spirit of public service. He urged the government to 'learn from history,' pointing out that the RSS had been banned during the tenures of late Prime Ministers Jawaharlal Nehru and Indira Gandhi, yet had subsequently grown stronger each time.
Governance Neglect, BJP Alleges
Beyond the RSS controversy, Vijayendra broadened his attack, alleging that the Karnataka government was raising 'unnecessary issues' and indulging in political point-scoring while neglecting the state's pressing concerns — including the problems faced by the poor and the difficulties confronting ordinary citizens. He said it was the Home Minister's foremost responsibility to act stringently against those engaged in activities that genuinely threaten national security, not to focus political energy on the RSS.
Flag-Hoisting Row: Vijayendra Targets Housing Minister Zameer
Vijayendra also turned his fire on Housing Minister B.Z. Zameer Ahmed Khan over a separate controversy: Zameer had reportedly written to the Chief Minister seeking exemption from his duty to hoist the national Tricolour in Vijayanagara district on Independence Day, 15 August, citing party organisational work and the need to prepare for upcoming Assembly bypolls.
Vijayendra called the move inappropriate and said hoisting the national flag on Independence Day was a ministerial duty, not a matter of personal discretion. 'One cannot step away from government responsibilities citing party organisation or Assembly bypolls,' he said. He added that Zameer's letter amounted to disrespect toward the post of District In-charge Minister as well as toward the national Tricolour itself, and that elected representatives should not seek the benefits of office while avoiding its obligations.
With the Karnataka legislature session approaching and Assembly bypolls on the horizon, the BJP's twin offensive — on the RSS targeting and the flag-hoisting controversy — signals an intensifying political battle between the ruling Congress and the opposition ahead of Independence Day 2025.
Point of View
Vijayendra forces the Congress to either escalate — a legally and politically risky move — or retreat and appear to have overplayed its hand. The Karnataka government's approach of using regulatory legislation rather than a direct ban suggests it is testing the political waters without fully committing. Historically, RSS bans have backfired on the governments that imposed them, a fact Vijayendra is deliberately invoking. The flag-hoisting row, while secondary, hands the BJP a ready-made patriotism narrative just as Independence Day coverage peaks — timing that is unlikely to be accidental.
NationPress
14 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is BJP challenging the Karnataka government over the RSS?
BJP Karnataka President B.Y. Vijayendra accused the Congress-led Karnataka government of using the newly approved Karnataka Regulation of Use of Government Premises and Public Property Bill, 2026 — along with proposals for mandatory prior permission for public meetings — to indirectly target RSS activities. He challenged CM D.K. Shivakumar to formally ban the RSS if the government believed it was acting against national interest, rather than pursuing indirect restrictions.
What is the Karnataka Regulation of Use of Government Premises and Public Property Bill, 2026?
It is a bill approved by the Karnataka Cabinet that seeks to regulate the use of government premises and public property by private individuals, organisations, associations, societies, and other entities. Critics, including the BJP, allege it is designed to restrict RSS activities in the state, though the government has not explicitly named the organisation.
Has the RSS been banned in India before?
Yes. According to Vijayendra, the RSS was banned during the tenures of late Prime Ministers Jawaharlal Nehru and Indira Gandhi. He argued that on both occasions the organisation subsequently grew stronger, and urged the Karnataka government to 'learn from history.'
What is the controversy involving Housing Minister B.Z. Zameer Ahmed Khan?
Zameer Ahmed Khan reportedly wrote to Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar seeking exemption from his duty as District In-charge Minister to hoist the national Tricolour in Vijayanagara district on Independence Day, 15 August, citing party organisational work and Assembly bypoll preparations. Vijayendra condemned the move as disrespectful to the national flag and to the ministerial post.
What has Vijayendra said about Home Minister Priyank Kharge?
Vijayendra accused Kharge of repeatedly targeting the RSS instead of focusing on his responsibilities as Home Minister, including taking stringent action against genuine threats to national security. He sarcastically suggested Kharge should resign from the Home Minister's post and head a department dedicated solely to opposing the RSS.
