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Kalaburagi (Karnataka), Nov 16 (IANS) The centenary foot march of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) was successfully conducted by uniformed participants in Chittapur town of Karnataka’s Kalaburagi district on Sunday amid tight security.
Chittapur Assembly constituency is represented by Priyank Kharge, Karnataka’s Minister of Rural Development and Panchayati Raj, IT and Biotechnology, son of Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge.
The foot march, which was allowed after the court’s intervention, passed peacefully through the main roads of Chittapur city.
As RSS volunteers marched carrying the picture of Bharat Mata, women, children and men stood on both sides of the road showering flowers and cheering the procession.
The foot march started at 3:45 pm, ended at 4:22 pm and lasted about 1.25 km.
It started from Bajaj Kalyan Mandap, passed through Ambedkar Circle, Basava Hospital, HDFC Bank Road, Basaveshwara Circle and came back to Bajaj Kalyan Mandap.
As per court directions, 300 volunteers and 50 drummers were allowed to participate.
The police allowed only RSS volunteers from Chittapur city and did not allow people from other parts of the state to join the march.
Before the start of the program, volunteers sang the RSS anthem ‘Namaste Sada Vatsale Matribhume’.
The controversy surrounding the foot march had earlier attracted national attention when district authorities had refused permission for the event.
The Congress-led state government granted approval after the intervention of the Karnataka High Court.
Police had conducted a route march in the city and one platoon each of Karnataka State Reserve Police and District Armed Reserve was deployed near Bajaj Kalyan Mantap.
Overall, around 650 police personnel and 250 home guards were deployed to ensure security and maintain law and order in Chittapur.
Kalaburagi Superintendent of Police (SP) Adduru Srinivasulu, along with additional SP and deputy SP, closely monitored the situation.
CCTV cameras and drones were also installed for strict surveillance.
On November 7, the Congress-led state government told the High Court bench led by Justice MGS Kamal that it would positively consider the RSS’s application to hold a foot march in Chittapur.
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.
Subsequently, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah issued an order making it mandatory to seek prior permission from authorities for programs in public places and government-owned premises.
However, later the High Court stayed this order.
Challenging the government’s direction, Paschachetna Seva Sanstha and others approached the High Court.
Meanwhile, several Dalit and progressive organizations protested against the proposed RSS path sanchalan, demanding that the volunteers should not carry sticks or ‘saffron flags’.
Instead, he urged participants to carry the Preamble of the Constitution and the national flag.
This development had raised concerns in the area.
–IANS
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