Karnataka officer suspended for attending RSS event

The Karnataka government has suspended Panchayat Development Officer(PDO) Praveen Kumar for attending RSS centenary celebrations on 12th October in the state. Praveen Kumar also serving as personal assitant to the Lingsugur MLA was seen wearing RSS uniform and marching in a procession while holding a stick. The government order stated that his actions violated civil service conduct rules requiring political neutrality and discipline. A departmental inquiry has been ordered, and the officer will remain under suspension with subsistence allowance until further notice. Meanwhile, authorities removed saffron flags and banners put up ahead of a proposed RSS march at Chittapur on Sunday. Slamming the BJP, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah alleged that the BJP doesn’t care about the people or do people’s work; it is only focused on politics.

Mysuru, Karnataka: On the denial of the RSS procession in Chittapur, CM Siddaramaiah says, "I don’t know what happened. We have not targeted the RSS... Earlier, when Jagadish Shettar was CM, it was mandatory to hold programs in public spaces, yet no one questioned it then. This… pic.twitter.com/L22ZD2jgbz

— IANS (@ians_india) October 18, 2025

This event comes after Congress 'anti-rss' movement in the state. BJP has criticized congress for anti-Hindu mindset. BJP Karnataka chief Vijayendra Yediyurappa has called the suspension an "assault on patriotic sentiments" using government machinery.The Congress and the BJP had been at loggerheads in Karnataka since the state government made it mandatory for all organisations to obtain prior permission to hold events in public spaces. This followed state minister Priyank Kharge's call for a ban on RSS activities in such spaces. 

(State Correspondent)