‘Let RSS hold route march with tricolour and preamble’: Chittapur peace meeting sees heated exchanges
A peace meeting convened by the Kalaburagi district administration to discuss permission for an RSS route march in Chittapur on November 2 witnessed heated exchanges with some outfits, who had also threatened to hold similar rallies, demanding that the Sangh conduct their march carrying the national flag and preamble of the Constitution.
The meeting, chaired by Kalaburagi Deputy Commissioner Fouzia Taranum, was held as per the directions of the Karnataka High Court. Besides the RSS, representatives of Bhim Army, Bharatiya Dalit Panthers, Hasiru Sene, Karnataka Rajya Chalavadi Kshemabhivruddi Sangha, Karnataka Rajya Raitha Sangha, and Gonda Kuruba ST Horata Samithi attended the meeting.
Quoting official sources, PTI reported that several of these organisations expressed concerns that a march featuring lathis (sticks) could lead to law and order issues. They suggested that the RSS hold the route march carrying the national flag and the preamble of the Constitution instead of lathis and the Bhagavadwaja (saffron flag).
The RSS representatives rejected this proposal and maintained that they had the right to hold a peaceful route march as per their traditions. In response, some groups threatened to hold similar rallies in the town on the same day.
The RSS route march in Chittapur, the home constituency of state minister Priyank Kharge, was originally scheduled for October 19, but the administration denied permission, citing law and order concerns.
The organisation moved the Karnataka High Court, which directed it to submit a fresh application seeking permission to hold the march on November 2. The court also asked the authorities to review the application and submit a report by October 24.
On October 24, the High Court instructed the district administration to convene a peace meeting with all parties concerned and attempt to reach a consensus.
The dispute over the route march came amid a raging political row in Karnataka after the state government announced its plans to restrict the activities of the RSS in public places and schools.
India