RSS in the frame? Karnataka cabinet clears Bill to regulate public space use by ‘unregistered entities’

Bengaluru: The Karnataka government has proposed a Bill to regulate the usage of public spaces by ‘unregistered organisations’, which would bar such entities from using public property and spaces without requisite permissions.

The latest move by the Congress-led government further intensifies the growing conflict between the ruling party and its objections to organisations like the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), which has a significant presence in the southern state.

“It provides a legal framework to safeguard, preserve, and ensure the responsible utilisation of Government lands, buildings, playgrounds, parks, roads, and other public assets, preventing misuse while protecting them for public benefit and good,” he wrote in a post on X.

He added that the government is not using this Bill to target any institution or organisation. “Why is everyone thinking this is to curtail or curb any particular institution, association, organisation, society, club, union, syndicate or NGO? Beats me.”

The Cabinet has approved The Karnataka Regulation of Use of Government Premises and Public Property Bill, 2026.

The Bill seeks to regulate and govern the use of Government premises and public property by private individuals, organizations, associations and societies. It provides…

— Priyank Kharge / ಪ್ರಿಯಾಂಕ್ ಖರ್ಗೆ (@PriyankKharge) August 13, 2026

Kharge, one of the RSS’s fiercest critics, told ThePrint that the government plans to introduce this bill in the ongoing (Monsoon) Session of the legislature. Though details of the proposed Bill are yet to be made available, it follows a previous dispute 10 months ago regarding a proposed RSS march on 19 October 2025, in Kharge’s constituency of Chitapur (Kalaburagi), which was halted over law and order concerns.

At the time, a petition filed on behalf of the RSS saw the courts direct the authorities to review the application and submit a report by 2 October. This led to heated exchanges between the ruling Congress and RSS, the ideological parent of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the principal Opposition in Karnataka.

The RSS is legally recognised by courts and tax authorities as a “body of individuals”. “We have nothing to hide. There are many institutions and traditional organisations that are not registered. We function publicly, invite people to understand our work and are transparent about our activities. Such political gimmicks are not new to us,” RSS Chief Mohan Bhagwat had said at the time.

Kharge has used several platforms to question the historical record and legal status of the RSS, warning that the Karnataka government will introduce legislation requiring the organisation to register under the law.

Kharge is mirroring Lok Sabha Leader of the Opposition, Rahul Gandhi’s disdain for the RSS. On Thursday, Gandhi said that the original RSS was the expression of small Indian businessmen like goldsmiths, jewellers and Baniya’s but has been captured by large capitalists like the Ambanis and Adanis.

“That was the RSS. That died. It’s gone. Today the RSS is the instrument of Mr (Gautam) Adani. That’s all it is. And they stand there with their lathis and all, making a fool of themselves,” Gandhi said on Thursday.

The Karnataka home department, under Kharge, has spared no opportunity to pull up the RSS, including over its ‘Har Ghar Tiranga’ campaign.

“For over five decades after Independence, the RSS did not hoist the National Flag at its Nagpur headquarters. The tricolour was officially hoisted only in 2002. Before lecturing every Indian on patriotism, perhaps the BJP should first explain why its ideological parent choose the Bhagwa Dhwaj over the Tricolour and why the national flag was absent from its own headquarters for so long,” Kharge posted on X.

The BJP should begin its #HarGharTiranga campaign at the RSS headquarters.

For over five decades after Independence, the RSS did not hoist the Indian National Flag at its Nagpur headquarters. The Tricolour was officially hoisted only in 2002.

Before lecturing every Indian on…

— Priyank Kharge / ಪ್ರಿಯಾಂಕ್ ಖರ್ಗೆ (@PriyankKharge) August 13, 2026

He added that these “chaps” who don’t even respect the national flag “go around giving ‘desh bhakt’ certificates to everyone”.

(Edited by Nardeep Singh Dahiya)

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