Karnataka Home Minister Priyank Kharge has urged the RSS to formally register, disclose its finances, and pay taxes, stating that an organization of its scale must adhere to transparency and constitutional compliance.
The call for registration and financial disclosure by a state Home Minister highlights ongoing scrutiny of large, influential organizations operating outside formal legal structures in India, potentially impacting their public standing and operational compliance.
Karnataka Home Minister Priyank Kharge has formally written to RSS Sarsanghchalak Mohan Bhagwat, urging the organization to register itself, disclose its finances, and pay taxes. Kharge congratulated the RSS on its centenary year and stated that an organization of its scale and influence must adhere to the highest standards of transparency, accountability, and constitutional compliance.
Kharge cited figures provided by the RSS, indicating that the organization had conducted 2,194 Samajotsavas involving 19.6 lakh participants and organized 562 route marches across Karnataka with over 2.2 lakh uniformed participants. He argued that such an extensive network could not be treated as a private or informal arrangement and raised questions about its legal status, financial transparency, and compliance with Indian law.
The minister requested the RSS to depute authorized office-bearers to explain the legal grounds on which it continues to operate without formal registration. He contended that if other entities like workers, associations, NGOs, trusts, companies, and citizens are expected to register, disclose accounts, undergo audits, and pay taxes, the RSS should also abide by the rules of the land. Kharge called upon the organization to use its centenary year for "constitutional introspection."
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