‘Banning RSS or its activities is not just impossible, it’s a fantasy’: BJP’s R Ashoka hits out at Priyank Kharge

BENGALURU: Opposition leader in the Karnataka Assembly R Ashoka on Sunday criticised IT-BT Minister Priyank Kharge’s demand to ban RSS activities in government schools, colleges, and state-owned temples, accusing him of diverting attention from governance failures. The BJP leader R Ashoka called it “fantasy” and urged the Congress to “focus on governance”.

The comment came after Congress leader Priyank Kharge raised a strong objection to holding Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) programmes in government premises across the state.

In a post on X, Ashoka said, “Even with a commanding majority of 352 seats, your supreme leader Rahul Gandhi’s grandmother Indira Gandhi couldn’t ban the RSS and its activities. And even with an unprecedented 414 seats, his father Rajiv Gandhi couldn’t do it either. So, what exactly can an outgoing Chief Minister like Siddaramaiah do now? Banning the RSS or its activities is not just impossible – it’s a fantasy.

Minister @PriyankKharge avare,

Even with a commanding majority of 352 seats, your supreme leader @RahulGandhi’s grandmother Indira Gandhi couldn’t ban the RSS and its activities. And even with an unprecedented 414 seats, his father Rajiv Gandhi couldn’t do it either.

So, what… https://t.co/vffwgwDYva

— R. Ashoka (@RAshokaBJP) October 12, 2025

Ashoka asked Minister Priyank Kharge whether, before demanding a ban on RSS activities, he would first urge Mallikarjun Kharge to take action against Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar for singing the RSS song inside the sacred halls of Vidhana Soudha, describing it as “the very temple of democracy for 6.5 crore Kannadigas.”

“But let me throw you a challenge. If you truly have conviction in the ideology you claim to follow, start from your own party. Your KPCC President and Deputy Chief Minister @DKShivakumar proudly sang the RSS song inside the sacred halls of Vidhana Soudha – the very temple of democracy for 6.5 crore Kannadigas. Before talking about banning RSS, why not first write to your father, @INCIndia President @kharge, and demand that @DKShivakumar be expelled from the Congress party for that act? Can you do that?” the post read.

“It’s ironic that those who justify ‘Pakistan Zindabad’ slogans inside the Assembly now claim to speak for India’s unity, integrity, and the spirit of the Constitution. Instead of writing meaningless letters to divert attention from your failures and misgovernance, why not focus on your duties? Start by delivering real relief to the farmers of Kalyana Karnataka who are struggling after the recent floods. Governance is about accountability, not empty posturing,” the BJP leader further wrote.

Meanwhile, Minister Priyank Kharge urged Chief Minister Siddaramaiah to bar RSS activities in government schools, colleges, and state-owned temples, accusing the organisation of “brainwashing young minds” and promoting a “philosophy against the Constitution”. He criticised the RSS, saying, “‘Hindu khatre me hai, bacha zyaada paida karo,’ yet its members remain bachelors. Why can’t they marry and practice what they preach?”

ಸಂವಿಧಾನದ ಮೌಲ್ಯಗಳನ್ನು ಗಾಳಿಗೆ ತೂರುವ ವಿಭಜಕ ಶಕ್ತಿಗಳು ತಲೆ ಎತ್ತಿದಾಗ ಅವುಗಳನ್ನು ನಿಗ್ರಹಿಸಲು ಸಂವಿಧಾನವೇ ನಮಗೆ ಶಕ್ತಿಯನ್ನು ಮತ್ತು ಅಧಿಕಾರವನ್ನು ನೀಡುತ್ತದೆ.

ಆರ್ಎಸ್ಎಸ್ ಪ್ರತಿಪಾದಿಸುವ ಮೂಲಭೂತವಾದಿ ಸಿದ್ದಾಂತದ ಪರಿಣಾಮದಿಂದಲೇ ಇಂದು ನ್ಯಾಯಾಂಗದ ಮುಖ್ಯಸ್ಥರ ಮೇಲೆ ಶೂ ಎಸೆಯುವಂತಹ ವಾತಾವರಣ ಸೃಷ್ಟಿಯಾಗಿದೆ, ಬಾಬಾ ಸಾಹೇಬ್… pic.twitter.com/b1Gn63uoEq

— Priyank Kharge / ಪ್ರಿಯಾಂಕ್ ಖರ್ಗೆ (@PriyankKharge) October 12, 2025

Priyank Kharge said, “I have requested the CM that RSS activities should not be allowed in government schools and colleges… RSS’s activities brainwash young minds, which is not helping the nation or society. I’ve written to the CM to not allow RSS activities or their ‘Baithaks’, even in archaeological temples or state-owned temples. Let them do it in private homes… We have no problem with that but you can’t use government grounds for their mass brainwashing… If this philosophy were so good, why aren’t the BJP leaders’ children involved in it? How many BJP leaders’ children have taken Trishul Diksha? How many BJP leaders’ children are Gaurakshaks and Dharam Rakshaks? How many BJP leaders’ children come out in the open during any communal disturbance? RSS philosophy is only for the poor.”

He added further criticism of the organisation’s practices, saying, “The RSS people say ‘Hindu khatre me hai, bacha zyaada paida karo’, but they remain bachelors. Why can’t they marry? Why can’t they practice what they preach? This entire philosophy is against the Constitution. They are the ones who refused the Constitution and who want Manusmriti as the Constitution. How many BJP leaders practice the Manusmriti in their homes? Let them practice in their homes and then come and preach to others…”

Earlier on Sunday, Priyank Kharge raised a strong objection to holding Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) programmes in government premises in Karnataka. Priyank Kharge has written a letter to the Chief Secretary, urging that permission should not be granted for RSS programs to be conducted in government school and college grounds.

He has also appealed to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, requesting that RSS programs should not be allowed in public parks and Muzrai (endowment) temples as well. Priyank Kharge wrote, “An organisation called the Rashtriya Dasteyamsevaka Sangh is using government schools and public government grounds to organise demonstrations and hurl slogans, instilling negative thoughts in the minds of children.”

“The police are carrying out unauthorised demonstrations with sticks and are having a negative impact on the minds of innocent children and youth,” the letter added.”In the interest of the children, youth, public and the well-being of the society, I request you to ban all kinds of activities conducted by the RSS organization in the name of a branch, Sanghik or Baithak in government schools and government-aided schools and any government places including grounds, parks, temples of the Muzrai Department, places of the Archaeological Department,” the Congress leader said. (ANI)