Bengaluru: The BJP has launched a strong attack on the Congress government in Karnataka over the suspension of two government school teachers for participating in an RSS route march, accusing the ruling party of pursuing “hate politics” and using government machinery to target people associated with the Sangh Parivar.
Union Education Minister Pralhad Joshi condemned the action and demanded immediate withdrawal of the suspension orders. He alleged that the government’s decision reflected a “hateful” and vindictive approach towards those associated with the RSS.
The Karnataka Education Department on August 27 suspended two teachers from Yadgir district for their alleged participation in an RSS ‘Path Sanchalan’ held at Hunasagi on October 10, 2025. The suspended employees are Gururaj Joshi, an assistant teacher at the Government Girls’ High School in Hunasagi, and Annasaheb Deshmukh, headmaster of Kuppi Government Lower Primary School in Surpur taluk.
Joshi argued that courts had, on several occasions in the past, intervened when government employees were targeted for participating in RSS activities. He said such action had faced judicial scrutiny even in earlier decades and questioned the rationale behind the latest disciplinary proceedings.
Union Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy also criticised the state government and questioned what wrongdoing the teachers had committed by attending an RSS programme.
“What mistake did they commit? Is there any problem with attending an RSS meeting? Was any harm caused? Did violence break out?” Kumaraswamy asked, questioning the basis for the government’s decision.
Leader of Opposition in the Karnataka Assembly R. Ashoka described the suspension as “condemnable” and alleged that the Congress government was targeting employees because of their ideological association with the Sangh Parivar.
Ashoka argued that the teachers had participated in the route march during their personal time and questioned whether government employees were entitled to personal freedom outside their official duties.
ಕರ್ನಾಟಕದಲ್ಲಿನ ಕಾಂಗ್ರೆಸ್ ಸರ್ಕಾರಕ್ಕೂ ಘಜ್ನಿ, ಘೋರಿ, ಖಲ್ಜಿ, ತುಘಲಕ್ ಆಡಳಿತಕ್ಕೂ ಯಾವುದೇ ವ್ಯತ್ಯಾಸ ಕಾಣುತ್ತಿಲ್ಲ!
RSS ಪಥಸಂಚಲನದಲ್ಲಿ ಭಾಗವಹಿಸುವುದು ಅಪರಾಧವಾಗಿದ್ದು ಎಂದಿನಿಂದ? ವೈಚಾರಿಕ ಕಾರಣಕ್ಕೆ ಶಿಕ್ಷಕರನ್ನು ಅಮಾನತು ಮಾಡುವುದು ಕಾಂಗ್ರೆಸ್ಸಿನ ಅಧಿಕಾರ ದುರುಪಯೋಗದ ನಡೆ ಖಂಡನೀಯ! ತಮ್ಮ ವೈಚಾರಿಕ ದ್ವೇಷಕ್ಕಾಗಿ ಕಾಂಗ್ರೆಸ್… pic.twitter.com/mQMcedqlrI
— BJP Karnataka (@BJP4Karnataka) August 27, 2026
He alleged that the action was an example of the Congress government’s “hate politics” and accused it of attempting to intimidate and silence people holding an ideology different from that of the ruling party.
“Intimidating, suspending and attempting to silence through government authority those who oppose their political ideology is not a feature of democracy,” Ashoka said, demanding that the suspension orders be withdrawn immediately.
The government, however, has defended the action on the grounds of service rules. The Education Department has maintained that the teachers’ participation prima facie violated provisions of the Karnataka Civil Services (Conduct) Rules, 2021. The suspension orders have been issued pending a departmental inquiry.
According to the proceedings, Deshmukh participated in the RSS route march at Hunasagi on October 10, 2025. During the disciplinary process, he reportedly contended that the programme was conducted outside his working hours and was a cultural and social event rather than a political activity.
The Education Department did not accept the explanation and proceeded with disciplinary action against the two teachers. Notices had earlier been issued to both employees seeking their explanations before the suspension orders were passed.
The issue has also brought Home, IT and BT Minister Priyank Kharge into the political controversy. Kharge defended the Education Department’s authority to initiate proceedings against government employees if their participation in an organisation or programme was found to violate service rules.
“That’s left to the Education Department. If someone is participating in some event and the department sees it is fit to take action, they will initiate action,” Kharge told reporters in Bengaluru.
