This special report covers the political firestorm in Karnataka over the Congress government's proposal to restrict Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) events in government-aided educational institutions, featuring arguments from Congress's Shatabish Shivanna and BJP's Narendra Rangappa. A key point of contention is a letter by Minister Priyank Kharge to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah urging for the restrictions. The BJP spokesperson controversially stated, 'We are not teaching them... how to manufacture explosives, how to attack, how to detonate, and all that as they do in the Madrasas.' The Congress questions why the RSS, an unregistered organisation, should be allowed to 'indoctrinate' students in schools. In response, the BJP defends the RSS's activities as nation-building. The Siddaramaiah government is now reportedly studying the Tamil Nadu model, where permissions and restrictions on such events are in place, indicating a potential policy shift in Karnataka.
00:00So, let's break down for you exactly what's led to this heated political debate in Karnataka.
00:05Joining us on this broadcast on Super 6 is Shatabhi Shivanna, Deputy Spokesperson of the Karnataka Congress.
00:12We also have Narendra Rangappa, Spokesperson of the Karnataka BJP.
00:15Namaskara to both of you, thank you very much for joining us.
00:18I'd like to begin with you, Shivanna, on what really has led to this pitch to go ahead and restrict RS's events in Karnataka.
00:26No, firstly, there is this huge uproar that the government intends on banning the RSS.
00:33This is what happens if we limit our analytical thinking to WhatsApp forwards.
00:38What has the minister said?
00:39Let's suspend the activities of the RSS in government and government-aided institutions.
00:44No, but that's what I said, Shivanna, to restrict the RSS's events.
00:48I firmly believe that there is no harm, no controversy in what he is requesting for.
00:54Why should it what business does any political party or any organization that is remotely associated to politics have in a government institution, have in an educational institution?
01:06Our children deserve education, not indoctrination.
01:10You preach ideology in your shakhas, not in schools.
01:13And secondly, even after 100 years, why are you not registered?
01:18Why don't you subject yourself to any legal or constitutional regulatory framework?
01:24This is a simple question.
01:26There might be, there's a strong possibility that unlawful activities or preaching of ideology is being conducted and this is left unchecked because they are not registered.
01:37Because they don't subject themselves to any...
01:38No, but what's the trigger now, Shivanna?
01:39Shivanna, first of all, let's be very clear that my question to you was about restricting RS's events, not on a ban on the sunk.
01:45But having said that, what's the trigger?
01:47Why now is there this demand that comes forth saying, don't allow this, limit the venues or locations where the RSS can hold these events?
01:55No, I don't understand what business do they have in an educational institution in the first place.
02:00The question must be posed to them.
02:02If you want to carry out your activities, you are politically inclined.
02:06You carry it out in private spaces.
02:09You carry it out in the farmhouse of the state BJP president.
02:12No one is stopping you.
02:14But why do you want to indoctrinate or politically indoctrinate students?
02:18And if the same thing is being done by any other political party, will you not object it?
02:23Let's get in the BJP on this.
02:26Narendra Rangappa, what's your response to that?
02:28The Congress is saying, what's the need for the sunk to be allowed in a school and an educational institution, which should be kept away from any political outfit?
02:36Let me ask a few questions to Mr. Priyank Kargay before I answer that.
02:46Mr. Priyank Kargay, why don't you write a letter to the CM asking about the status of pro-Pakistani slogans that were sorted in Midrana, Sauda, Badrathi and Sumaga?
02:55What is the status of the PFI and the SDP cases that have been withdrawn?
03:01Why don't you write a letter to the CM and ask them to withdraw?
03:03Why don't you pass a resolution to ban namaz on public roads, streets, airplanes and trains?
03:11Why don't you ban the unlawful loudspeakers that are on the masks that deny the Supreme Court's verdict?
03:18Why don't you take action against the people who's pelted stones and the Pantul bombs that are...
03:23Point taken, point taken, Mr. Rangappa, point taken, point taken.
03:27It's Mr. Kargay's prerogative at the end of the day on which issue he chooses to speak up on.
03:31But what's your response to the Congress saying, what's wrong with this?
03:36What is wrong with this?
03:39See, basically the idea of Congress ideology is to divide people.
03:45It is not only by blaming the RSS, but by also dividing the society on their caste.
03:51Lingayat and Veera Shaiva, then Muslim Christians, then Indian Christians, then Muslim Lingayats, Indian Lingayats.
03:57This is their basic intent to divide the society and to please their masters in the Delhi High Court.
04:06I mean the Delhi ruling court of Jalapur.
04:08This is what Mr. Kargay's son is trying to do.
04:11Is he trying to get a good favour from the High Command by trying to please them?
04:15No, but Mr. Rangappa, the specific question...
04:17The only way he can please them is by...
04:18The specific question raised by the Congress is what's wrong with stopping an RSS event from happening in an educational institution, sir?
04:27Madam, when there is a requirement for a place and when there is some peaceful activity happening, when there is a nationalistic activity happening, when we are training a few kids to be nationalistic, when we are treating them as our future and trying to document them into being a good citizen, loving their nation, Bharat Mata as their mother, what is wrong with it?
04:54We are inducting a good culture. We are inducting good nationalism in them. We are not teaching them how to manufacture explosives, how to attack, how to detonate and all that has to do with the Madrasas.
05:08Who is doing that? What are you suggesting, Mr. Rangappa? Who is doing that?
05:11As I said, it is that certain particular training centres that have been found in and around Kasarud and Mangalow very clearly says there are training schools for people who indulge in terror activities. For example, the cooker blast in Mangalow. This is a very classical case.
05:31Okay, okay. Shivana, your response. Your response to what Mr. Rangappa says, that this is nationalism being taught. What is wrong with that?
05:38No, see, Mr. Rangappa has exposed their ideology. When we are questioning why RSS must be allowed to carry out activities in government institutions, they say, why don't you ban Madrasas?
05:50So, please, sir, don't equate RSS to Madrasas. Firstly, that is my suggestion to you. Now, secondly, why are you not registered? Where is the money coming from? Who oversees it? Why should the RSS be an exception to transparency?
06:05If you fear registration? If you fear registration, don't preach nationalism, operating in the shadows while claiming a moral high ground? That's not patriotism, sir. That is evasion. It is deeply concerning that activities cloaked as cultural or educational may, in fact, be politically motivated or even unlawful. This is our concern.
06:28No, but how unlawful? Shivana, how is this unlawful? See, is it politically motivated or not? Is the RSS the foundation of the ideology of the Bharatiya Janda Party? Should we spread politically motivated ideas?
06:41No, you can answer our question. How is it tender explanation? No, Shivana. I did not disturb you. I did not disturb you. One at a time, one at a time. Shivana, then your suggestion, your suggestion is that anyone remotely to do with the RSS has a BJP ideology,
06:56and everyone then would point fingers back at the Congress at the fact that you had Mr. D.K. Shiv Kumar just last month triggering a controversy when he sang the RSS anthem in the assembly,
07:06or for that matter, pictures that the BJP has been releasing of Mr. Malikarjun Karge from many years ago at an RSS event as well.
07:13See, even when you take Malikarjun Karge into concern, he had attended a meeting asking the RSS to confine to the constitutional and legal frameworks. He didn't participate in the organization.
07:26Secondly, insofar as D.K. Shiv Kumar is concerned, one second, sir, one second. It shows that he knows who his enemies are. He knows what kind of domination happens by the RSS in schools and shakas. He is aware of all of this. That doesn't mean that you cannot link him to the RSS.
07:48Mr. Rangappa, your response.
07:49See, he has to answer two questions here. One, when Mr. Karge was the Home Minister in 2002,
07:58he has made a very clear cut statement that the RSS is doing good work, number one. Number two, Mr. Parmeswar recently attended a Sang Parivar meeting where he offered floorings to the Bhagavata Jha and offered his namans.
08:19Number three, when the RSS was invited by Pandit Nehru to participate in the Republic Day Parade in the full uniform, the lattes that they were carrying in the parade didn't look like talwas to them.
08:32Are they denying the thought process of Nehru? Indira Gandhi, who had a good price for RSS, that they are doing good work.
08:39RSS has been always in the forefront when there is a national disaster or when there is a national necessity that volunteers are needed.
08:49Where are the Sevadar people?
08:51Okay, there have been multiple instances, essentially the BJP's contention here.
08:54Mr. Shivanna, where are they?
08:56Okay, Mr. Rangappa, let's give the Congress a chance to respond.
08:59Mr. Shivanna, the BJP's contention is that there have been multiple instances of your own leaders praising the Sang, talking about what the RSS stands for.
09:08Very well, what's the problem? I want to extend my congratulation.
09:13But you're the one currently questioning what the RSS is teaching, what does the RSS do in these educational institutions and their political affiliation.
09:22I am congratulating them. They have completed 100 years. It is no small feat.
09:27But why do you want to carry out your activities in a government or government-aided institution?
09:32Why are you compelling us to carry out these activities?
09:35You conduct your activities, sir. You preach your ideology, whatever it may be, in a private institution.
09:41Are you...
09:42Why are you insisting that I want to...
09:44Are you going to...
09:45I want to...
09:46No, see, I don't like this interruption.
09:47One at a time, please. One at a time.
09:49Mr. Rangappa, I'll give you a chance to respond. Shivanna, go ahead.
09:52See, you do it wherever you want, externally. Why is it that you want to do it in educational institutions, number one?
09:59Okay.
10:00Number two, why are you not a registered body? Answer the simple question.
10:03Okay, Mr. Rangappa, quickly your response, then I wrap this up.
10:06Every day, the nation is asking one question.
10:07Quickly your response to the two.
10:08Where is your money coming from? Who are you accountable to? Because even unregistered power must answer to the constitution.
10:15Okay, two pointed questions from Shivanna there. Go ahead, Mr. Rangappa. First, on why RSS should be allowed in educational institutions.
10:22Second, the point that Shivanna raises about why it's unregistered.
10:27We are not conducting any criminal activity or anti-social activity. There is no case or criminal case pending against the RSS.
10:37When we need some accommodation, when accommodation is available, why should we not use it?
10:44No, but why an educational institution? Why an educational institution? Why is that considered a need for the RSS?
10:51See, it is a need of space for good utility.
10:56Need of space for good utility. Many states like Kerala, they hire it out for so many other cultural activities.
11:04So why not a national building activity? And will you say the same for the PFI and SDPI?
11:11Will you ban Namaj in the train, aeroplane?
11:14We say the same for PFI and SDPI. We say it for them also.
11:18No, Mr. Rangappa is drawing a parallel between the RSS and the PFI.
11:23We will not permit. See, he is exposing the ideology.
11:26Mr. Rangappa, are you drawing a parallel between the RSS and the PFI here?
11:30It is not a question of parallality. It is a question of priority and intent.
11:35The intent of Congress is to appease, appeasement.
11:44Please one section. Please the right command. We don't have any such intentions.
11:49Our intention is only nation building, bringing a good citizen to the nation in the future.
11:54Okay. All right. I am wrapping this up. Thank you very much, Mr. Rangappa and Mr. Shivanna for your time, for joining us here on India Today.
12:01You have heard from both the BJP and the Congress on this.
12:04Remember that in states like Tamil Nadu, while the RSS, of course, is free to go ahead and hold events, there are restrictions.
12:11If they are going to be holding their event at, let's say, an educational institution or in some sort of public ground, they need permission.
12:19Very often it's been an issue that's gone up to the courts because very often the Tamil Nadu police doesn't provide that necessary special permission that's required for an RSS event.
12:28And then there are a number of restrictions that are put in place.
12:31You could see that happening next in Karnataka, too, because the chief minister, Sidramaya, has referred particularly to the Tamil Nadu example,
12:38while saying we could be looking at doing something like that in Karnataka, too.
12:42So we'll have to see what really happens. Will there be restrictions on some events in Karnataka going forward?
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