A Panchayat Development Officer (PDO) of Karnataka Raichur district has been suspended on the allegation of attending an event held by the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), which is the ideological parent of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). The officer who participated in the route march of the RSS at Lingsugur on October 12 was the officer named Praveen Kumar K.P., who was serving in the Sirawar Taluk Panchayat. He was spotted in the customary dressing of the organisation at the event.
The IAS officer Arundhati Chandrashekar issued the suspension order. The government officials quoted a breach of Rule 3 of the Karnataka Civil Services (Conduct) Rules, 2021, which enforces the idea of political neutrality and integrity and unbiased behaviour of employees of the government. His appearance at the RSS programme was considered by the government as a violation of these norms.
This was done after the Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Minister of Karnataka, Priyank Kharge, wrote a letter to the Chief Minister, Siddaramaiah. Kharge, in his communication, urged the government personnel to be disciplined in their activities or relationship with the RSS. The state cabinet had earlier in the week voted to prohibit the operations of the private organisations, including RSS, in the government-run and government-aided schools, colleges, and government premises.
The suspension has attracted a bitter reaction from the BJP. Karnataka BJP president Vijayendra Yediyurappa severely blamed the Congress government, saying that it was making an attack on the organisations of Hindus and was being biased. He explained the action as a strike on patriotic feeling and alleged abuse of state machinery.
The Congress leadership is influenced by an anti-Hindu mentality, as Yediyurappa described. He insisted that the suspension should not only be lifted but also that the apology should be made. He also added that failure to initiate corrective action would lead to the BJP reacting to what it considers as divisive politics through constitutional and democratic means.