RSS yet to reply to my letter, says Priyank Kharge

Home Minister Priyank Kharge on Monday said that he is in no hurry for the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) to respond to the letter he wrote raising a series of questions, remarking: “abhi picture baaki hai”.

Addressing presspersons here, Mr. Kharge said that the RSS has not yet replied to his letter and dismissed reports that the organisation [RSS] is collecting information about him and his family, saying, “Let them do it”.

He reiterated that the RSS would have to obtain prior permission for its route marches. He added that future applications will be considered in accordance with court directions, government guidelines and the prevailing law and order situation.

Questioning the RSS’s practice of collecting Guru Dakshina, Mr. Kharge sought transparency in the accounting of funds. He also said that the RSS can be linked to the irregularities surrounding donations made for the Sri Ram temple in Ayodhya.

Referring to reports of theft involving cash, gold, silver, jewellery and other valuables, as well as irregularities in construction contracts of Sri Ram temple, Mr. Kharge said, “If there is a donation scam, I have no doubt that the RSS has a share in it.”

The RSS has not responded to this yet, he added.

The Minister also criticised the Union government’s foreign policy questioning why retail fuel prices have not been reduced despite a fall in global crude oil prices.

Replying to a question on Cabinet expansion, Mr. Kharge said that the Congress leadership has been urged to ensure greater representation for the Kalyana Karnataka region in the proposed expansion.

New police stations

Mr. Kharge said that the government is open to constructive suggestions from institutions, including the Lokayukta.

On the establishment of new police stations, he said that proposals will be assessed according to Central norms, with crime patterns, rather than the geographical extent of an area, determining the need for new police stations, including within the Kalaburagi Police Commissionerate.

He said that the government is also working on a legally sustainable transfer policy for personnel in the Home and Prisons departments who have remained in the same postings for long periods.