Karnataka Minister Calls for Crackdown: Officials in RSS Activities Face Scrutiny

In a significant move stirring political discourse in Karnataka, Minister Priyank Kharge has publicly urged Chief Minister Siddaramaiah to take decisive action against government officials found engaging in activities with the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS). Kharge's stern call comes with a strong emphasis on maintaining political neutrality within the state's bureaucracy, citing well-established service conduct rules.

The Minister for Rural Development and Panchayat Raj highlighted that government employees are strictly prohibited from participating in any political activities.

He pointed to the Karnataka Civil Services (Conduct) Rules and a crucial circular issued by the Department of Personnel and Administrative Reforms (DPAR) way back in 1966, which explicitly bars government servants from associating with the RSS. Kharge underscored that these rules are not merely suggestions but binding regulations designed to ensure that the administration remains impartial and focused solely on public service.

Kharge further bolstered his argument by referencing a 2013 High Court judgment that upheld the validity of these very regulations.

This judicial backing, according to Kharge, leaves no room for ambiguity regarding the expected conduct of government employees. He stressed that any deviation from these norms constitutes a clear violation of service rules, potentially compromising the integrity and neutrality of the state machinery.

The core of Kharge's argument is the imperative for government officials to serve the public without any political bias or affiliation.

He articulated that allowing civil servants to engage in partisan political activities, such as those associated with the RSS, undermines the very foundation of an unbiased administration. Such involvement, he warned, could lead to a erosion of public trust and an unfair advantage or disadvantage to specific political ideologies within the governmental framework.

Calling for immediate intervention, Priyank Kharge appealed directly to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah to ensure strict compliance with these conduct rules.

He asserted that it is the Chief Minister's responsibility to uphold the sanctity of the civil services and to send a clear message that political neutrality is non-negotiable for all government employees in Karnataka. This demand sets the stage for a potential administrative crackdown and reaffirms the government's stance on maintaining a politically unaligned bureaucracy.