Karnataka Home Minister Priyank Kharge on Wednesday, 4 November 2026, said that Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) members are 'good,' noting that the organisation had formally submitted required details and sought police permission for its route marches across Karnataka. The remarks came after a prolonged administrative standoff over whether RSS processions needed formal permission or could proceed on mere intimation to local authorities.

What the Minister Said

Speaking to reporters in Bengaluru, Kharge said the government had earlier lacked clarity on who was organising the marches, but the RSS had since provided the required information, including names of those associated with its shakhas. He also took a swipe at the media, alleging it had been spreading propaganda against the RSS despite the organisation complying with the rules.

'You had scared us by saying that they would not seek permission or provide details. The RSS people are so good. Wherever they have conducted marches, they have provided information and sought permission. At some places, permission was not granted, but they cooperated,' Kharge said.

Key Shift: Formal Permission, Not Intimation

Kharge underscored a significant procedural point — the RSS had not framed its applications as mere intimations to the police, but had explicitly sought permission throughout the state. 'Nowhere in their applications have they stated that they are merely intimating the police department. They have sought permission throughout Karnataka. They have changed,' he said.

He added that the details now furnished by the RSS would help the government identify who is associated with each of its shakhas. He also hinted at possible future transparency around the organisation's finances, remarking that the RSS may eventually register itself and disclose funding sources, including whether money flows from within the country or abroad.

Background: The Permission Controversy

The dispute over the RSS Vijayadashami Path Sanchalan route marches had escalated after Kharge publicly declared that the organisation must obtain formal police permission rather than merely informing authorities about its route maps. He had shared internal letters in which the RSS had 'informed' local police to coordinate logistics — a practice the Home Department considered insufficient.

Officials argued that because the marches involve over two lakh participants across hundreds of routes, prior formal applications are necessary for the police to manage traffic, safety, and public infrastructure effectively. The department stressed that laws governing public gatherings apply equally to all organisations, including the RSS.

Significance and What Comes Next

Kharge's conciliatory tone marks a notable shift from the earlier confrontational framing of the issue. The RSS's decision to formally seek permission — rather than contest the government's directive — has effectively resolved the immediate standoff. Notably, this episode has set a procedural precedent in Karnataka for how large-scale organisational processions must be managed going forward.

It remains to be seen whether the RSS's compliance will serve as a template for other states where similar disputes over march permissions have periodically arisen, or whether the question of financial disclosures — raised by Kharge — will evolve into a broader political debate.