Bengaluru: Karnataka Minister Priyank Kharge and senior Congress leader B K Hariprasad on Wednesday raised concerns over the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) not being a registered organisation and questioned its funding sources.

Kharge, who has frequently targeted the RSS by writing to the Chief Minister seeking restrictions on its activities in public spaces and disciplinary action against government employees associated with it, said in response to a question:

"....throw the RSS registration on my face saying that RSS is a registered organisation. There ends the matter."

Speaking to reporters, he questioned the source of the organisation’s funds. "...where is the money coming from for this unregistered organisation? To stitch the clothes, to conduct marches, to purchase the drums and trumpets, to build the buildings, where is the money coming from? If you (RSS) are unregistered, how are you getting the money?"

Kharge also alleged that the RSS avoids registering itself to evade legal compliance. "If you are registered, you will have to pay the taxes, ensure compliance under the Registrar of companies, Society Registration Act, NGO Act. They will have to share information about foreign and private donations, and domestic funding. So they are not getting registered.

In Delhi, Hariprasad echoed similar concerns, questioning the RSS’ registration and its funding practices. "...to demand information about the funding, they should be a registered organisation. The Congress party, as well as the BJP is registered with the Election Commission of India. Where is the RSS registered?"

He also pointed to the organisation’s fundraising during Vijayadashami. "There is black money there. Has the ED or IT department or CBI raided it? For whom is this money being used? They have constructed a Rs 700 crore building. Where did the money come from? They are doing it illegally. If I have to say. They should get registered."

Responding to Kharge’s remarks, BJP leader and former Deputy CM C N Ashwath Narayan defended the RSS, saying that not all organisations are required to be registered. "Every individual and organisation has the freedom to carry out their activities legally and constitutionally in a democracy...there is nothing that it should be a registered organisation. RSS is a voluntary organisation for building the country socially, religiously, culturally and educationally," he told reporters.