Karnataka CM's Son Compares RSS to Taliban: Calls for Regulatory Oversight Spark Political Controversy

Yathindra Siddaramaiah, a Congress MLC and son of Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, has drawn a controversial comparison between the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and the Taliban.

In a statement made while Taliban Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi was visiting India, Yathindra claimed the RSS harbors fundamentalist intentions similar to those of the Taliban regime currently ruling Afghanistan.

"The RSS possesses a mindset comparable to the Taliban. They believe only one interpretation of a religion should exist. Just as the Taliban issues strict directives dictating how Islam should be practiced and restricts women's freedoms, the RSS similarly seeks to impose a singular view of Hinduism," Yathindra stated on Monday.

The BJP's Karnataka unit chief, BY Vijayendra, promptly defended the RSS, asserting that "the ideology of nationalism and social reform will triumph over the anti-national Congress." The RSS itself has not yet responded to these remarks.

Yathindra further advocated for regulatory oversight of the RSS, questioning how such an influential organization with substantial financial resources operates without formal registration. "Despite calling itself a major organization with a building in Delhi worth thousands of crores, they remain unregistered. As an influential entity, they should comply with legal requirements," he argued.

Karnataka IT Minister Priyank Kharge and Congress leader BK Hariprasad have echoed these sentiments. Hariprasad specifically labeled the RSS as the 'Indian Taliban' and criticized the organization for conducting 'shakhas' (training camps) in government schools without authorization.

"The RSS lacks registration as an official body and must obtain permission from relevant authorities for activities in public spaces such as grounds or parks," Hariprasad remarked on Sunday, following RSS centenary celebrations that included marches through Bengaluru.

Priyank Kharge, son of Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, has formally requested the Chief Minister to prohibit RSS activities in government institutions and public spaces across Karnataka, arguing that such activities undermine national unity and constitutional principles.

"Our Constitution empowers us to restrain divisive forces that promote hatred among people, thereby preserving the nation's secular values," Kharge wrote to the Chief Minister. "They may conduct their activities privately without objection," he later told reporters, while accusing the RSS of "spreading communal poison."

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has instructed his Chief Secretary to examine the issue and consider an approach similar to Tamil Nadu's, where authorities frequently deny permission for RSS events citing security concerns, though courts have overturned such prohibitions.

BJP's Vijayendra strongly criticized these calls for restrictions: "Kharge demonstrates his ignorance by sending such a letter to the Chief Minister. The Congress has attempted to ban the RSS three times previously but ultimately reversed each ban. The Congress lacks the authority to prohibit the organization."

"The Tukde Tukde Gang has resurfaced in Karnataka, supported by the @INCKarnataka government. However, Karnataka—described by poet Kuvempu as 'Bharata Jananiya Tanujaate', a proud daughter of Mother India—never tolerates betrayal of the motherland. Jai Bharat! Jai Karnataka!" he posted on X.