RSS march in Chittapur: permission denied over law and order concerns

The Chittapur Tahsildar, Nagayya Hiremath, has denied permission for the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) to hold its proposed route march in Chittapur town on Sunday (October 19, 2025) citing potential law and order issues.

The decision came after the Chittapur police, in a report to the Tahsildar, expressed apprehensions that simultaneous processions planned by three organisations – the RSS, Bhim Army, and Bharatiya Dalit Panthers – on the same route and on the same day could lead to clashes between the groups.

In his order rejecting the RSS’s application, Mr. Hiremath referred to the memorandum submitted by Prahlad Vishwakarma, the RSS’s district-level office-bearer from Kalaburagi, who had sought permission to conduct the march as part of the organisation’s centenary celebrations and Vijaya Dashami programme.

Following the request, the Tahsildar had written to the Chittapur police seeking their opinion. The police, after assessing the situation and gathering intelligence reports, advised against granting permission, citing serious law and order implications.

According to the police report, tensions have been running high in Chittapur following an earlier incident in which an RSS worker allegedly made derogatory remarks and issued a life threat to Minister Priyank Kharge, who represents the constituency. The incident, which led to a case being registered in Bengaluru’s Sadashivanagar police station, had sparked protests across Karnataka, including a bandh in Chittapur two days ago in support of Mr. Priyank.

The report further noted that the Bhim Army’s State youth wing and the Bharatiya Dalit Panthers had also sought permission to conduct their own route marches along the same path on October 19, 2025. The police feared that simultaneous events by these groups could trigger confrontation and disturb public peace.

“The Chittapur Police have submitted a report stating that if the RSS, Bhim Army, and Bharatiya Dalit Panthers hold their route marches in Chittapur town on October 19, 2025, there is a strong possibility of clashes among the groups, which could adversely affect law and order. Hence, granting permission for the event would not be appropriate,” Tahsildar Hiremath said in his order.

Accepting the police recommendation, the Tahsildar, in his order issued late on Saturday (October 18, 2025), said permission for the RSS route march could not be granted so as “to prevent any untoward incident and to ensure maintenance of peace and public order.”

Copies of the order have been forwarded to the Deputy Commissioner of Kalaburagi, the Assistant Commissioner of Sedam, and the Chittapur Police Inspector for information and necessary action.

Meanwhile, the RSS workers, who had made elaborate arrangements for the route march, had put up saffron flags, banners, and buntings across Chittapur town, represented by Minister Priyank Kharge. However, municipal authorities removed the decorations early on Saturday morning (October 18, 2025), citing the absence of necessary permission for the installations.

With the Tahsildar now officially denying permission for the event, the proposed route march stands cancelled. Late on Saturday (October 18, 2025) night, Superintendent of Police Adduru Srinivasulu visited the town and reviewed the security arrangements to ensure peace and prevent any possible disturbance.