Chittapur RSS route march: Peace meeting ends in acrimony, stalemate

The contention implicit the projected Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) route march successful Chittapur deepened connected Tuesday (October 28, 2025) erstwhile a bid gathering convened by the Kalaburagi territory administration, as directed by the Karnataka High Court, ended successful acrimony aft the RSS delegation rejected the request made by different groups to springiness up lathis (wooden staffs) and regenerate them with nationalist flags and copies of the Preamble to the Constitution during its centenary march.

The meeting, chaired by Deputy Commissioner Fouzia Taranum, was attended by representatives of 10 organisations, including the RSS, Bhim Army, Bharatiya Dalit Panthers, Gonda Kuruba ST Horata Samithi, Karnataka Rajya Chalavadi Kshemabhivruddi Sangha, Karnataka Rajya Raitha Sangha and Hasiru Sene, among others.

On antithetic days

When Ms. Taranum asked if the organisations were acceptable to clasp their respective way marches connected antithetic dates to debar confrontation, a fewer organisations, led by the Karnataka Rajya Chalavadi Kshemabhivruddi Sangha, opposed granting support to the RSS, claiming it was not a registered organisation.

Tensions erupted erstwhile CPI(M) territory caput K. Neela, Bharatiya Dalit Panthers person Mallappa Hosamani, and student Prof. R.K. Hudgi jointly projected that the RSS beryllium allowed to clasp its way march lone if its volunteers agreed to springiness up lathis and alternatively transportation the Indian nationalist emblem and copies of the Constitution’s Preamble.

Ambaraya Ashtagi, State vice-president of the BJP’s Scheduled Caste Morcha and a subordinate of the RSS delegation, objected vehemently, questioning wherefore the RSS should “follow others’ diktat” connected however to behaviour its event. “We person our ain contented and discipline. We cannot let others to archer america what to transportation successful our march,” helium reportedly said, sparking a heated exchange.

Other participants, including S.S. Tawde, Rajendra Kapanur, Dinesh Doddamani, Lachhappa Jamadar and different Dalit leaders who represented antithetic organisations, countered that carrying lathis successful a communally-sensitive municipality similar Chittapur could provoke tensions and was “inconsistent with the tone of law democracy.” The statement grew sharp, starring to an abrupt extremity of the gathering without a consensus.

Sloganeering against RSS

Outside the gathering venue, a ample fig of supporters from assorted Dalit, Left, and progressive organisations had gathered. As the gathering broke up astir 1 p.m., protesters raised slogans against the RSS and its “divisive politics,” prompting the constabulary to escort the RSS representatives safely retired of the Deputy Commissioner’s bureau premises.

“Since a ample assemblage had gathered outside, we provided harmless transition to the RSS delegation arsenic a precautionary measure,” said a elder constabulary officer. Police unit person been deployed successful beforehand of Mr. Ashtagi’s house.

Counter-marches

Emerging from the meeting, Bhim Army State president S.S. Tawde told reporters that his organisation, on with different like-minded groups, would clasp their ain way march connected the aforesaid time arsenic the RSS if it refused to regenerate the lathis with the nationalist emblem and the Constitution Preamble. “We volition amusement our committedness to the Constitution,” helium declared.

Dinesh Doddamani, District General Secretary, Karnataka Rajya Chalavadi Kshemabhivruddi Sangha, argued that the RSS was “setting Dalit leaders against each other.” “Since the bulk of Dalit organisations opposed the RSS way march, they pushed guardant Ambaraya Ashtagi, a Dalit and BJP leader, to antagonistic america successful the meeting. He is being utilized arsenic a shield,” helium alleged.

Mr. Ashtagi countered it and said, “I person nary contented with the nationalist flag. It was the BJP nether Prime Minister Narendra Modi that launched the Har Ghar Tiranga campaign. But we don’t request lessons successful patriotism from anyone. The RSS volition bash what the tribunal directs, not what different organisations dictate.”

The quality began aft Chittapur Tahsildar Nagayya Hiremath denied support to the RSS connected October 19 to behaviour its way march, citing imaginable instrumentality and bid problems, aft aggregate organisations sought support for marches connected the aforesaid way and date.

Ashok Patil, the RSS person successful Chittapur, past filed a writ petition earlier the Kalaburagi Bench of the Karnataka High Court, challenging the denial. On October 24, Justice M.G.S. Kamal directed the territory medication to convene a bid gathering of each acrophobic organisations to enactment retired a statement and study to the tribunal by adjacent day of hearing, October 30.