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Bengaluru, Nov 7 (IANS) The Congress-led government in Karnataka on Friday told a High Court bench led by Justice MGS Kamal that it would positively consider the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh’s (RSS) application to hold a foot march in Chittapur town in Kalaburagi district.
Chittapur is represented by Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge’s son and minister Priyank Kharge.
Minister Priyank Kharge had earlier courted controversy by writing to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah requesting a ban on RSS activities in public places and government-owned premises.
Following the state government’s order, CM Siddaramaiah issued an order making it mandatory to take prior permission from authorities to organize events in public places and government-owned premises.
However, this order was later stayed by the High Court.
Challenging the state government order, an NGO Paschachetna Seva Sansthan and others approached the High Court.
In response, several Dalit and progressive organizations protested the proposed RSS ‘Path Sanchalan’ (foot march), demanding that RSS volunteers should not carry lathis (sticks) or ‘Bhagwa Dhwaj’ (saffron flag), instead insisting that participants should carry the Preamble of the Constitution and the national flag.
This development has increased concern in the area.
Advocate general Shashi Kiran Shetty, representing the state government, said the authorities will consider all 11 applications for the foot march and procession, including the one submitted by the RSS, subject to certain conditions discussed in the recent meeting.
He also requested the court to give one week’s time while assuring all the applicants to give consent.
Senior advocate Aruna Shyam, appearing for the petitioner, told the court that the meeting held on November 5 as per the directions of the court was good.
After hearing the arguments, the court said that lawyers for both the government and the petitioner described the meeting as fruitful.
The dates proposed by the petitioner – November 13 and November 16 – are being considered positively, and the State will convey its final decision to the petitioner.
After this the bench adjourned the case till November 13.
Earlier, the court had directed the petitioner, RSS Kalaburagi unit convenor Ashok Patil, to meet officials at the Advocate General’s office on November 5 regarding the proposed foot march.
–IANS
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