Bengaluru, Oct 25 (PTI) The RSS held route marches at several locations across Bengaluru on Sunday as part of its centenary celebrations and Vijayadashami, with BJP leaders R Ashoka and Chalavadi Narayanaswamy participating in the events.
The marches were also organised in several other districts of Karnataka, although some were cancelled or postponed due to permission-related issues.
Sources in the RSS said the marches were conducted at many locations across Bengaluru, including Jayanagar and Chamarajpet, amid tight police security to prevent any untoward incidents and maintain law and order.
The marches were held with participants — children, youth and senior members — taking part.
In Chamarajpet, the march passed through various areas before concluding in front of Siddharoodha Ashram. The volunteers walked to drum beats and offered their salutations to ‘Mother India’.
Former Bengaluru Police Commissioner and BJP leader Bhaskar Rao also participated.
Police made elaborate security arrangements at the venues to prevent any untoward incidents and traffic congestion.
The route march scheduled in Tumakuru was postponed in view of the graduates’ constituency election.
In Mulbagal in Kolar district, the event was rescheduled to October 31, while the march in Chikkaballapur was deferred after the Deputy Commissioner withdrew permission.
The route march in Koppal was also reported to have been postponed, while conditional permission was granted for events in Ramanagara and Kalaburagi.
In Kalaburagi, organisers were directed to follow the prescribed route, with restrictions on provocative speeches.
The RSS also planned a route march in Hubballi, followed by a public meeting, sources said.
The events come amid a political debate over the permissions required for RSS route marches, with Karnataka Home Minister Priyank Kharge insisting that the organisation must obtain permission from the authorities rather than merely informing the police.
Kharge has been targeting RSS and questioning the practice of route marches where the participants carry sticks.
He has also asked RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat to explain why his organisation has not been registered yet, even after a century of its existence, and what its source of revenue is to conduct such mega events. PTI GMS KH
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