Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh volunteers taking out a route march at Chittapur, Kalaburagi district, on Sunday.
| Photo Credit: ARUN KULKARNI
The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh’s (RSS) centenary route march, which had sparked off intense debate and drawn national attention over the past month, was held peacefully at Chittapur in Kalaburagi district on Sunday under tight security.
The march, which was taken out in the constituency of Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Minister Priyank Kharge, featured hundreds of uniformed volunteers, with lathis and flags, marching through the town as thousands of residents lined the roads, showering them with flower petals.
The march began around 3.45 p.m. from Bajaj Kalyana Mantapa and proceeded along the predetermined route under an elaborate security arrangement before returning to its starting point.
In keeping with the conditions laid down by the administration, only residents of Chittapur town were permitted to participate in or witness the procession. The police set up check-posts on all roads leading to the town to ensure that no outsiders either joined the march or entered as spectators.
The security arrangements were unprecedented. Over 1,000 police personnel, including civil police, KSRP, District Armed Reserve units and Home Guards, were deployed for the procession of 300 swayamsevaks accompanied by 50 band players.
Throughout the march, the police formed a protective cordon around the contingent. Several individuals who arrived in uniform but were not on the approved list were not allowed to take part in the procession. Youths attempting to raise unauthorised slogans were restrained and directed to move behind the main group. Despite the massive turnout of supporters along the route, no untoward incidents were reported.
Between 50 and 60 CCTV cameras were installed across the town, with special focus on the procession route, two days prior to the event.
Several drone cameras were also deployed to monitor the march from above, while police personnel recorded the proceedings on hand-held video cameras.
Superintendent of Police Adduru Srinivasulu, accompanied by Deputy Superintendent of Police Shankargouda Patil, personally supervised the deployment to ensure crowd control and the strict adherence to the conditions laid down by the administration. Traffic diversions were enforced throughout the town, and authorities said the programme concluded peacefully without any untoward incident.
In the morning, the police held a meeting with the organisers and once again reiterated the terms and conditions that were to be strictly complied with.
The administration’s elaborate arrangements followed a prolonged phase of friction, legal intervention and rounds of mediation as the route march had been at the centre of intense public attention for nearly a month.
The RSS first sought permission in early October, but the administration denied it, raising law and order concerns, as many other organisations, including a few Dalit outfits, had sought permission to hold similar marches on the same day and same route.
The RSS challenged the decision in the High Court, prompting the Kalaburagi Bench to direct the administration to engage in peace talks.
The first meeting, held on October 28 in Kalaburagi, ended without a consensus. The court then instructed that a second round be held on November 5 at the Advocate-General’s office in Bengaluru, where officials and representatives of all applicant organisations were brought together.
Following these deliberations, the Chittapur tahsildar issued a conditional permission order on November 12, laying out strict limits and behavioural expectations.
Published – November 16, 2025 08:41 pm IST
