Bengaluru: Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s son and MLC Dr. Yathindra Siddaramaiah has strongly backed Congress leader Priyank Kharge’s call to curb RSS activities in public institutions, saying that the organization functions with a “Taliban mindset” and should not be allowed to operate freely in government-owned spaces.
Speaking to reporters in Mysuru, Yathindra said that the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) has been holding meetings and events in schools, colleges, and public parks without prior permission, in violation of administrative norms.
“Any organization that wishes to hold a meeting or public activity must seek prior permission. But the RSS has been conducting its programs without any official approval for years. This cannot be allowed to continue. There must be clear restrictions,” Yathindra stated.
He added that the RSS does not conduct routine social events but instead promotes an ideological agenda aimed at influencing society politically.
“They operate with a fixed ideology, with the goal of imposing that ideology on the community. That makes it a political activity, and such programs should require government permission,” he asserted.
When asked whether the government intends to bring a proposal to ban RSS activities, Yathindra said,
“There is no immediate plan to impose a complete ban, but the RSS must be stopped from holding unsanctioned meetings in schools, colleges, and parks. These gatherings are used to spread a toxic, divisive ideology.”
Yathindra also endorsed Congress leader B.K. Hariprasad’s statement describing the RSS as the “Indian Taliban.” He said that despite its massive influence and presence across India, the RSS has not even been registered as an official organization, which raises serious legal and ethical questions.
“The RSS claims to be one of the largest organizations in India. They’ve built massive buildings in Delhi worth crores, yet they are not registered under any law. It’s shocking that such a powerful organization continues to function without registration — it’s clearly a legal loophole that needs to be examined,” Yathindra said.
He emphasized that the government should verify the RSS’s legal status and ensure that its operations are regulated under Indian law.
The remarks from the Chief Minister’s son come days after Minister Priyank Kharge wrote to CM Siddaramaiah seeking a formal ban on RSS activities inside government institutions. The letter, which sparked intense political debate, accused the RSS of “indoctrinating students under the guise of social service.”
Yathindra’s comments are likely to deepen the Congress-BJP ideological confrontation in Karnataka, with the BJP already accusing the Congress government of targeting nationalist organizations for political gain.
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