A file photo of members of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) marching in their uniform.
| Photo Credit: M. Samraj
The Department of Rural Development and Panchayat Raj suspended Panchayat Development Officer (PDO) Praveen Kumar, who is posted in Sirwar taluk, for allegedly participating in an RSS event, wearing the uniform of the organisation, at Lingsagur in Raichur district of Karnataka on October 12.ಸರ್ಕಾರದ ಹಿರಿಯ ಅಧಿಕಾರಿಗಳು ಸಚಿವ @PriyankKharge ಅವರ ಬೆದರಿಕೆಗೆ ಹೆದರಿ ದ್ವೇಷದ ರಾಜಕಾರಣಕ್ಕೆ ಹೆಗಲು ಕೊಡಲು ಆರಂಭಿಸಿದ್ದಾರೆ. ಇದರ ಆರಂಭವೆಂಬಂತೆ ರಾಯಚೂರು ಜಿಲ್ಲೆಯ ಪಂಚಾಯತ್ ಅಭಿವೃದ್ಧಿ ಅಧಿಕಾರಿ ಹಾಗೂ ಪಕ್ಷದ ಶಾಸಕರಾದ ಮಾನಪ್ಪ ಡಿ ವಜ್ಜಲ್ ಅವರ ಆಪ್ತ ಸಹಾಯಕ ಪ್ರವೀಣ್ ಕುಮಾರ್ ಕೆ.ಪಿ ಅವರನ್ನು @RSSorg ಶತಮಾನೋತ್ಸವ ಪಥಸಂಚನದಲ್ಲಿ… pic.twitter.com/4y6Jx7s2iw— Vijayendra Yediyurappa (@BYVijayendra) October 17, 2025Arundhati Chandrasekhar, Commissioner of the RDPR Department, issued the suspension order stating that Mr. Kumar has violated service rules by participating in an RSS event.Photos of Mr. Kumar wearing the ganavesh (uniform worn by RSS workers) and holding a lathi have gone viral on social media platforms.The suspended PDO is expected to face a departmental enquiry.On October 16, the Karnataka Cabinet decided to bring in rules to restrict activities of private organisations, such as the RSS, in public spaces. The decision came on the heels of events and route marches being held across Karnataka on October 12, including 100 in Bengaluru, to mark the 100th anniversary of the RSS.IT-BT and Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Minister Priyank Kharge had written to the Chief Minister seeking restrictions on such activities in the premises of government institutions and public places.Mr. Kharge had also sought strict implementation of existing conduct rules for government employees that restrict them from participating in such activities.BJP State unit president B.Y. Vijayendra has described the suspension of the PDO as ‘intimidation tactic’. Published - October 18, 2025 11:53 am IST
