Karnataka Home Minister Urges RSS to Disclose Legal Status and Organizational Structure

Karnataka Home Minister Priyank Kharge has written a letter to RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat , urging the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) to disclose details regarding its legal status, registration, finances, taxation and organisational structure. Sharing details of the letter on social media platform X, Kharge said the communication would reach Bhagwat shortly, but added that he wanted to draw attention to the issue at the earliest. He also congratulated the RSS on completing 100 years of its existence. In his message, Kharge stated that an organisation claiming to have more than 60,000 shakhas and crores of swayamsevaks across the country must also uphold transparency and constitutional accountability. Referring to the Akhil Bharatiya Pratinidhi Sabha’s 2025-26 Karnataka report, he highlighted the scale of RSS activities in the state. According to the figures cited by Kharge, the RSS currently operates 4,127 daily shakhas, 1,389 weekly milans and 60 monthly mandalis in Karnataka . The report also mentions that the organisation conducted 2,194 Samajotsavas involving around 19.61 lakh participants and organised 562 route marches with the participation of 2.21 lakh uniformed volunteers. Kharge argued that an organisation of such size and influence should provide clarity on its legal standing and administrative structure. He questioned whether the RSS is registered under any statutory framework and sought disclosure of details relating to its office-bearers, sources of funding, expenditure, taxation compliance and permissions obtained for public programmes and processions. Drawing a comparison with other entities, Kharge said citizens, labour organisations, non-governmental organisations, trusts, temples and companies are required to register, disclose their activities and comply with various legal provisions. He questioned why the RSS should remain exempt from similar requirements. “In its centenary year, the RSS must responsibly abide by the Constitution and register, disclose, pay applicable taxes and function transparently within the constitutional framework,” Kharge stated in the letter. Bhagwat has rejected Kharge’s demand, stating RSS is not a secret organisation, and accused political opponents of attempting to create unnecessary controversy around the century-old organisation. Speaking at an interaction programme in Thrissur, Kerala, the RSS chief said there was no need for him to respond to what he described as politically motivated allegations. “There are many activities and organisations in society that function without registration. We are not doing anything secretly. All our activities take place openly in public spaces. People are invited to observe our work, and our volunteers interact with society every day. How can anyone claim that the RSS functions in secrecy?” he asked. Bhagwat further termed the controversy a “political gimmick,” alleging that attempts were being made to create suspicion about the RSS among the public. “This is politics. Such gimmicks are common in political life. Similar allegations have been levelled against the RSS for decades. Efforts are made to obstruct our work and create doubts in people’s minds, but such attempts have never succeeded and will not succeed in the future,” he said. The RSS chief also questioned the logic behind demands for registration, drawing a comparison with Hindu religious traditions. “Many things in the world exist without formal registration. Is Hindu Dharma registered anywhere? Registration becomes necessary when an organisation seeks government funding. We do not depend on government grants,” Bhagwat said.