Union Minister for New and Renewable Energy Pralhad Joshi on Friday, 23 October fired back at Karnataka Home Minister Priyank Kharge over his remarks on Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) route marches, telling him to stop fixating on the organisation and instead focus on his ministerial duties. Speaking to reporters in Hubballi, Joshi argued that RSS route marches are far from a new development — they have been conducted since the tenure of Priyank's father, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge.

Historical Context of the RSS March Row

Joshi noted that RSS route marches had taken place even when senior Congress leaders, including Mallikarjun Kharge and Deputy Chief Minister G. Parameshwara, served as Home Ministers of Karnataka. He advised Priyank Kharge against politicising the issue, saying questions about the RSS should be directed to the organisation itself — not used as political ammunition. This is the latest flare-up in a long-running tension between the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Congress-led Karnataka government over the RSS's public activities in the state.

Joshi Flags Karnataka's Governance Gaps

The Union Minister trained his sights on broader governance failures under the state government, citing a worsening drought situation, deteriorating law and order, and a slowdown in development works across Karnataka. He urged Priyank Kharge to redirect his energy toward these pressing issues rather than, in Joshi's words, 'behaving as though he had no work.' The remarks amount to a pointed challenge to the ruling Congress administration ahead of local political cycles.

Pen Drive Threat to Siddaramaiah: Joshi Demands Accountability

Joshi also weighed in on a separate and politically charged controversy — an alleged sting operation and a reported pen drive threat to former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, who is currently facing pressure to resign. Joshi described the incident as 'shocking,' saying that using a pen drive to coerce a senior leader reflected a steep decline in political standards and had 'tarnished the dignity of Karnataka.' He stressed that while political differences with Siddaramaiah are natural, threatening him in this manner — from within both the state administration and the Congress party — was unacceptable. Joshi demanded that the Congress high command clarify who is behind the pen drive controversy.

Call for Stricter Action on Manja Use

Separately, Joshi urged the Karnataka government to take stringent action against the sale and use of manja — the synthetic kite-flying string that has reportedly caused fatalities in the state. He called for a dedicated online portal to monitor manja supply and use, and directed that police identify, arrest, and prosecute those involved in bringing or using the string. The demand follows a pattern of similar calls from lawmakers across states where manja-related deaths have prompted public outrage.

What Priyank Kharge Had Said

The dispute was triggered after Priyank Kharge stated that Karnataka Police are 'not slaves of the RSS' who would simply provide them security, insisting that the RSS must follow due procedures to obtain permission for conducting marches. Joshi's rebuttal effectively reframes the debate: rather than a question of police discretion, he positions it as a matter of established practice with deep historical roots — one that predates the current political rivalry.

With both sides now trading pointed barbs, the RSS march controversy is set to remain a live flashpoint in Karnataka's political landscape in the weeks ahead.