Add thelocalreport.in As A Trusted Source
Bengaluru, Oct 17 (IANS) Responding to BJP leaders’ challenge that they will continue organizing Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) events in Karnataka like before, RDPR, IT and BT Minister Priyank Kharge on Friday said legal action will be initiated if rules are followed.
The Karnataka government has made it mandatory for all organizations to take prior permission to organize events in public places. This comes after Priyank Kharge’s letter demanding a ban on RSS activities in such places.
Speaking to reporters in Bengaluru, Kharge said, “The law we are bringing in this regard is very clear. We are bringing the law on events and programs held in public places, parks, government schools, grounds and government-aided institutions.”
“If you don’t like it and you don’t follow it, action will be taken against those who violate the law. It is as simple as that. There is no complexity here. One has to take permission,” he stressed.
When Kharge was asked about BJP’s plan to organize a foot march in his Chittapur assembly constituency, he remarked, “In my constituency, they want to come in RSS uniform? Let the children of BJP leaders come in uniform, I will welcome them.”
He said, “BJP leaders have visited Kalaburagi district four to five times in a year, not to address people’s issues, but only to protest against me. Let them organize a foot march – no one is opposing them. But there are rules. My request to BJP leaders is that their children should come in RSS uniform and participate in the march.”
Leader of opposition in the assembly R. BJP leaders, including Ashok, have challenged the government order and announced that they will organize RSS events as usual, and challenged the government to take action if possible. BJP MLA SR Vishwanath has also appealed to party leaders and workers to set the RSS song ‘Namaste Sada Vatsale’ as their mobile ringtone.
On October 19, a foot march of RSS has been organized in Chittapur constituency, in which Priyank Kharge has been directly challenged to take action against it.
Meanwhile, the Congress party is also protesting in different districts in support of Kharge.
The Karnataka government took a decision in the cabinet meeting on Thursday, making it mandatory for all private organizations wishing to use public spaces across the state to seek permission from government authorities.
The official statement in this regard said, “Government, government-aided schools and colleges, aided educational institutions, parks, playgrounds, public roads, open spaces and other properties/lands are designated for the proper use of the citizens. It is necessary to ensure that no obstruction or danger arises which prevents the public from using them. Similarly, it is also necessary to prevent problems related to law and order and resolve public grievances.”
“It has been observed that many private organizations and associations in the State, with the intention of carrying out their activities, promotions, training, festivals and gatherings of members and supporters, are using public places, government properties such as lands, play grounds, public roads etc. without prior permission of the government or the concerned departments and in many cases, even without giving prior notice.
Such acts are considered trespassing and pose a serious threat to public safety. For this reason it becomes necessary to regulate the use of government property/space in the public interest. Therefore, any organization or association intending to use such public property/space must obtain prior permission from the competent authority owning the property/space,” the statement said.
The statement said that if any activity causes inconvenience to the public or the activities conducted in the premises/land of the concerned institutions affect the basic purpose of those institutions, then the competent authorities should refuse permission for such activities.
“In this background, Government, Government-aided schools and colleges, and grant-in-aid educational institutions – Department of Higher Education, Department of School Education and Literacy. Parks, playgrounds and other open spaces – Department of Urban Development, Rural Development and Panchayat Raj. Public roads and other government properties/lands – concerned Deputy Commissioner, Commissioner of Police, Superintendent of Police. The Cabinet has decided that while granting such grants, the said Department and the competent authority permissions should take care to ensure that the constitutional rights of the citizens are There should be no violation of the rights guaranteed by the Government of India, and for this purpose, they should issue appropriate and detailed guidelines,” the statement said.
–IANS
mka/dpb