Karnataka Home Minister Seeks Transparency from RSS, Organisation Rejects Demand

Bengaluru: A fresh political debate has erupted over the legal and financial status of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) after Karnataka Home Minister Priyank Kharge wrote an open letter to RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat seeking details about the organisation’s registration, finances, office-bearers and tax compliance. The RSS, in turn, rejected the demand, with Bhagwat describing it as a politically motivated exercise. In the letter, Kharge questioned the legal basis on which the RSS operates without formal registration despite its extensive national presence. He argued that an organisation claiming more than 60,000 shakhas and a vast volunteer network should be subject to the same standards of transparency, accountability and legal compliance that apply to trusts, societies, NGOs and other public-facing institutions. He sought clarification on the RSS’s legal status, sources of funding, income, expenditure, assets and tax obligations. Kharge said that the RSS’s scale of activities, including public mobilisation, route marches and social outreach programmes, raises legitimate questions about accountability, financial transparency and compliance with Indian laws. He urged the organisation to disclose its organisational structure and explain how it functions without formal registration as a legal entity. Responding to the letter, Bhagwat dismissed the demand and said the RSS has operated openly for decades and has nothing to hide. Speaking in Kerala, the RSS chief said registration is not necessary for every organisation and argued that many institutions and traditions function without being formally registered. He maintained that registration is generally required for entities seeking government funding. “Hindu Dharma is not registered. Many things are not registered,” Bhagwat said, adding that governments have long been aware of the RSS’s existence. He pointed to the fact that the organisation had faced government bans in the past, arguing that such actions themselves demonstrated official recognition of the RSS. The RSS chief further characterised Kharge’s demand as a political move, saying there was no need for a formal response. According to Bhagwat, the organisation works publicly and regularly engages with society, making allegations of secrecy unfounded. He suggested that the issue was being raised for political reasons rather than out of genuine concern about governance or accountability. The exchange has intensified a long-running ideological confrontation between the Congress and the RSS. Kharge’s intervention comes as the RSS approaches its centenary year, while the organisation continues to play a significant role in India’s socio-political landscape. The controversy is likely to fuel broader debates on transparency, regulation and the legal status of large voluntary organisations operating outside conventional registration frameworks.