Notice likely if RSS doesn’t reply on funding, assets: Priyank Kharge in Exclusive Interview

Karnataka Home Minister Priyank Kharge has said that if the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) does not provide proper answers to the questions he has asked regarding its registration and source of income, the right-wing organisation will be issued a notice and summoned for questioning as per the law.

Amid a demand for clarification that has triggered a political slugfest, Priyank recently asked the RSS to come clean on its sources of income, legal status, assets, and compliance with laws, among other matters.

Watch | Capital Beat | RSS registration row: Transparency demand or political battle?

Speaking to The Federal Karnataka in an exclusive interview, Kharge once again raised serious questions about the functioning and accountability of the RSS, considered the ideological fountainhead of the ruling BJP.

‘Let RSS answer on official letterhead’

“I had already written a letter asking a total of eight important questions, including the registration and source of income of the RSS. But so far, no official answer has been received. RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat has not given a direct answer to my questions, but has only spoken about the Chittapur incident (when the Congress government had denied RSS permission to hold a route march in Chittapur last year). Let him answer my questions on his official letterhead. Otherwise, we know how to get an answer from him legally," Priyank said.

Also read: How RSS emerged as a response to decline of Brahminical dominance 100 years ago

The state home minister, who defended himself by asking questions within the legal framework, said, "Lakhs of Rashtriya Swayamsevaks take to the streets and hold programmes and processions. When programmes are held on such a large scale in public, whose jurisdiction does it fall under? Can the Women and Child Welfare Department or the Agriculture Department ask questions without asking the home department?" he asked.

Reminder, official notice likely

Priyank said the questions have been asked for investigative purposes in the wake of many complaints against the RSS. Now, as the first step, only a letter has been written.

Also read: Kharge to RSS: 'Produce documents, or be ready for legal action'

‘Not bothered by threats’

The Karnataka minister said that ever since he issued the letter to the RSS, he has been getting threat calls, but those have not deterred him.

"Since I took up the RSS issue, I have been receiving constant threat calls. But I am not bothered at all by such threats. My attention and focus are on maintaining law and order and transparency, and nothing else," he said.

(The article was first published in The Federal Karnataka)