Bengaluru: The Karnataka government, which recently faced a major embarrassment in the High Court for attempting to curb RSS activities, is now mired in yet another controversy. In the latest development, four government school teachers from Aurad taluk in Bidar district have been served official notices for participating in an RSS procession earlier this month.
The notices, issued by the Block Education Officer (BEO) of Aurad, have sparked political outrage and renewed the debate over whether the Congress government is misusing administrative power to suppress ideological opponents.
According to reports, the teachers identified as Mahadev, Shalivan, Prakash, and Satish — had taken part in an RSS path sanchalan held in Aurad on October 7 and again on October 13. The participation of government employees in the event came under scrutiny after local Dalit Sena leaders lodged a formal complaint on October 27, demanding immediate disciplinary action against the teachers.
Following the complaint, the BEO acted swiftly and issued show-cause notices to the four teachers the very next day. The notice alleges violation of the Karnataka Civil Services (Conduct) Rules and accuses the teachers of engaging in activities that contravene service norms.
Contents of the notice
The official notice states that the teachers were seen participating in RSS processions on October 7 and 13, with photos and videos of the events widely circulated on social media. It emphasizes that government employees are prohibited from engaging in political or religious activities while in service.
“You were involved in the RSS path sanchalan held in Aurad taluk in Bidar district on October 7 and 13. Videos and photos of this have been widely circulated on social media. As you are a government employee, you cannot participate in any political or religious activity. By participating in this procession, you have acted against government service regulations,” the notice reads.
It further instructs the teachers to submit a written explanation to the BEO’s office, failing which unilateral disciplinary action will be taken under the Karnataka Civil Services (Classification, Control and Appeal) Rules, 1957.
Political undertones and reactions
The timing of these notices has raised eyebrows, coming just days after the High Court stayed the Congress government’s controversial order banning RSS path sanchalan across Karnataka. The court had observed that the government’s restrictions were inconsistent with constitutional freedoms and appeared politically motivated.
BJP leaders have criticized the latest move as a continuation of the Congress’s anti-RSS stance despite the judicial reprimand. “The government is now targeting ordinary teachers for attending cultural and nationalistic processions. This is nothing but political vendetta,” a senior BJP functionary commented.
Supporters of the RSS have also pointed out that the organisation is not a political entity, but a cultural movement committed to social and national service. Therefore, they argue, attending such a procession cannot be construed as political participation.
Meanwhile, Congress allies and Dalit organisations have defended the action, insisting that government servants must remain neutral and abide by service conduct rules. “When teachers take part in a religious or ideological event, it sends a wrong message. The law must be followed,” said a Dalit Sena leader involved in the complaint.
This episode adds another layer to the growing tension between the Siddaramaiah-led Congress government and the RSS. The government’s repeated attempts to regulate or restrict RSS activities — whether through administrative orders or disciplinary action — have drawn strong criticism from the opposition and legal experts alike.
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