Chief Minister Siddaramaiah
Credit: PTI File Photo
Mangaluru: Puttur: Chief Minister Siddaramaiah dismissed the BJP’s allegations that the Congress was using Karnataka as an “ATM” for the upcoming Bihar elections, calling the charge baseless.
Reacting to allegations made by Shivamogga MP B Y Raghavendra, the CM said “They are blaming us for what they themselves have done,” he told mediapersons in Puttur.
He clarified that the state government has not banned the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS). He said that the recent order requiring organisations to seek permission before conducting activities in school and college premises does not specifically mention the RSS.
He said “The order clearly states that any organisation or association must obtain permission before carrying out activities within the premises of educational institutions. We have only reiterated what the previous BJP government had implemented. If they could issue such an order, why can’t we?” he asked.
Siddaramaiah pointed out that during Jagadish Shettar’s tenure as Chief Minister in 2013, a similar directive was issued by the Education Department restricting organisations from holding activities within educational campuses. “Now Shettar says he had nothing to do with it, but the order was indeed issued when he was the Chief Minister,” he added.
The Chief Minister further clarified that granting permission to organisations is not mandatory. “It depends on the local law and order conditions,” he said.