At a 5,000‑strong gathering on Bangalore’s MG Road, Kharge slammed the RSS as the "biggest threat to democracy" and called for full registration, citing alleged ties to U.S. lobbyists who also lobby for Pakistan.
She added that the organisation is amassing ₹10 crore in donations and quietly channeling them to households, raising questions about transparency.
The comments followed a week of political flare-ups when Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge dismissed Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s "ideological father" as the RSS, a move the BJP labelled as incitement.
BJP National General Secretary Smriti Irani slammed Kharge’s remarks as "unconstitutional," warning that legal action would be taken against anyone who "distorts" the nation’s constitutional fabric.
RSS officials, amid centenary route marches across Karnataka, said they would remain compliant with all statutory requirements while denying any political agenda.
A local tea stall owner near the rally venue noted that the influx of political rallies has disrupted daily life, yet urged voters to stay calm amid the growing tensions.