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Kalaburagi (Karnataka), Oct 20 (IANS) The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) on Monday submitted a fresh application to the Deputy Commissioner of Kalaburagi district, seeking permission to hold its centenary foot march in Chittapur town on November 2, following a direction from the Karnataka High Court.
Chittapur is represented by RDPR’s Minister of State and BT Priyank Kharge, who is also the son of AICC President Malikarjun Kharge.
Senior RSS functionaries submitted the application through email and WhatsApp after their delegation was unable to submit the petition in person citing unavailability of the Deputy Commissioner.
In the formal application, Ashok V Patil, a senior RSS functionary, wrote, “The Kalaburagi Bench has directed me to submit a fresh application seeking permission to organize an RSS foot march in Chittapur city on November 2.”
Patil said that despite visiting the official residence, the Deputy Commissioner did not receive the application.
Patil said, “In compliance with the High Court order, I visited the District Collector’s office, but no official was present. Therefore, I went to your official residence to submit the fresh application. However, despite being present inside the quarters, you did not find the application.”
The Karnataka High Court has allowed the RSS to organize its centenary foot march in Chittapur town on November 2, and directed the organizers to file a fresh application. The court also directed the state government to consider the petitioner’s plea and adjourned the matter to October 24.
The Kalburgi bench passed this order while hearing the petition on emergency grounds. The petition was filed by Ashok Patil, an RSS leader from Kalaburagi district, challenging the authorities’ refusal to grant permission for the march despite completion of the necessary procedures.
A bench headed by Justice MGS Kamal heard the case. Senior advocate Arun Shyam, appearing for the petitioner, said the application was first given to the police on October 13 and later to the executive magistrate on October 17, but it was rejected on October 19.
The government’s counsel argued that the refusal was based on law and order concerns, as organizations such as the Bhim Army and Dalit Panthers had also sought permission to hold a procession on the same day.
The High Court directed the government to allot different time slots for different processions to be held on October 19 and said that the RSS had conducted foot marches at 250 places across Karnataka without any untoward incident.
Earlier, authorities had removed saffron flags, banners and banners in Chittapur, where the centenary march was initially planned on October 19.
Following Priyank Kharge’s letter to the government, an order was issued making prior permission mandatory for private organizations to organize public events.
The Tehsildar had refused permission for the RSS procession citing law and order. However, the RSS has challenged this decision and said that its right to hold the march cannot be curtailed.
–IANS
MKA/SNJ/SKP