Responding strongly to the Cabinet’s decision to “target RSS activities” by regulating the programmes being organised by private organisations in public places, BJP State president B.Y. Vijayendra on Thursday alleged that the Congress government was doing it only to divert public attention from its failures.

In a social media post, Mr. Vijayendra alleged that the government was “unnecessarily targeting RSS” and repeatedly attacking it only to cover up its own failures.

‘Will only grow’

He asserted that the RSS network would only grow if the government subjects it to more regulation.

Alleging that efforts are continually being made often to stop the growth of the RSS in the post-Independent era, he said the RSS had been “growing by leaps and bounds as it had the blessings of crores of people in the country due to its commitment to the task of nation building.”

Leader of the Opposition in the Assembly R. Ashok took potshots at IT/BT and RDPR Minister Priyank Kharge whose letter to the Chief Minister seeking a ban on RSS activities on government premises paved the way for Thursday’s Cabinet decision.

‘Overtaking DyCM’

“The manner in which Mr. Priyank Kharge has been repeatedly attacking the RSS has made everyone wonder if he is dreaming of overtaking Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar in the chief ministerial race in the November revolution when the Congress is expected to see leadership change in Karnataka,” he said.

He alleged that Chief Minister Siddaramaiah had evolved a strategy to project Mr. Priyank Kharge as the right candidate to succeed him by using the Minister’s anti-RSS remarks at a time when Mr. Shivakumar had embarrassed his party high command by singing Sangh anthem in the Assembly and by attending a programme of Esha Foundation along with Union Home Minister Amit Shah.

Published – October 17, 2025 04:05 am IST