The Curious Case of the Unregistered Giant: A Minister Asks, Why No Papers?

Well, here’s a question that’s certainly ruffled some feathers in Karnataka: Why, asks minister Priyank Kharge, does the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) remain stubbornly unregistered? And honestly, it's not a small question; it delves right into the very fabric of accountability and transparency for powerful entities operating within our society.

Kharge, a minister in the Karnataka government, didn’t just muse about it quietly. He put it out there, plainly. If the RSS, a behemoth in India’s socio-political landscape, considers itself a social organisation—and many of its proponents would certainly argue that it is—then surely, you’d expect it to be registered under the Societies Act. Makes sense, doesn’t it?

But then, there’s the other side of the coin. What if, just what if, the RSS is, in essence, a political outfit? Because, let's be real, its influence on the nation's political trajectory, particularly with the BJP, is hardly a secret. In that case, Kharge contends, it ought to be registered with the Election Commission. It’s a pretty straightforward demand for classification, one would think.

And why does this matter so much? Ah, well, the implication Kharge gently, or perhaps not so gently, nudged at is the age-old issue of tax liability. Unregistered, an organisation might just find itself outside the usual tax net, perhaps sidestepping the kind of financial scrutiny that others face. It's about fairness, really, and about ensuring everyone, regardless of their perceived stature, plays by the same rules.

These rather pointed remarks from Kharge weren’t just dropped out of the blue, mind you. They came during a moment of reflection, when he was discussing the 'dangers of fascism'—a pretty heavy topic, to be sure. He voiced a broader concern about organisations that, for whatever reason, operate without the formal registration that brings with it a degree of accountability. It makes you wonder, doesn’t it?

In fact, this isn't even a new debate. Kharge himself recalled past demands for the RSS to open its books, to declare its assets, something many public-facing bodies are expected to do. He even referenced the historical precedent; even back in the British colonial era, organisations were required to register. And if it was good enough for the Raj, surely it's good enough now, or so the argument goes.

Naturally, the Karnataka BJP wasn't exactly thrilled with Kharge's pronouncements. B Y Vijayendra, the state BJP President, wasted no time firing back. He labelled Kharge's statements as 'politically motivated'—a classic political retort, you could say—and even questioned the minister’s 'mental state' for making such assertions. Strong words, indeed.

Vijayendra quickly leaped to the RSS’s defence, highlighting its supposedly immense contributions to society and its 'nation-first' ethos, suggesting that the organisation operates with an unwavering dedication to the country's welfare. His advice to Kharge? Focus on governance, please, rather than stirring up these controversies. A plea for practicality, perhaps.

But Kharge, for his part, isn’t backing down. He's reiterated his call: Register, declare assets. It’s a fundamental demand for transparency, he argues. And so, the political theatre continues, with questions about an organisation’s very identity and its place in the public eye taking centre stage. What happens next? We'll have to wait and see, but one thing is clear: this conversation is far from over.