May 9: Dr Arathi Krishna, deputy chairperson of the NRI Forum of Karnataka, has been appointed as the first chairperson of the NRI Cell of the Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC).
Dr Arathi Krishna, who received the appointment letter from KPCC president Dr G Parameshwar today, said that the intention behind the formation of the Cell is to publicize the Congress party among NRIs around the world.
While highlighting the initiatives taken by the chief minister Siddaramaiah led Congress government of Karnataka towards the welfare of NRIs from the State, she has urged the NRIs to create awareness among their families back home to vote for the party in the upcoming assembly polls.
Daughter of Begane Ramaiah, a veteran Congress leader and former rural development minister of Karnataka, Dr Arathi Krishna has been associated with the Congress party and NRIs for a prolonged period.
Earlier she had worked as a Community Development Officer in the Indian Embassy in Washington DC, and as an Adviser in the India Development Foundation, Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs. She also has set up an NGO ‘Krishna Foundation’ to partake in socio-economic needs and provide improved educational facilities in remote villages of Karnataka.
Having Done her Masters in ‘political science’ from Mysore University, another masters degree in ‘international commerce and public’ from George Mason University, Washington, and an honorary doctorate from Kuvempu University.
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New Delhi: The Union Ministry of Culture allegedly spent Rs 76.13 lakh on print advertisements marking the 100-year celebrations of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), according to a Right to Information (RTI) reply.
The information was sought by RTI activist Ajay Basudev Bose, who filed an application seeking details on expenditure incurred by the ministry for advertisements commemorating the RSS centenary.
Bose shared a picture of the reply from the ministry on his official ‘X’ handle.
“It is informed that an amount of Rs 76,13,129 has been spent on advertisement given in various print media by the Ministry of Culture on the occasion of the completion of 100 years of RSS,” the government’s reply stated.
RTI reply shows Min of Culture Govt of India spent a Whopping Rs 76L,13K,129 on Advertisement in Print Media on occasion of 100 yrs of #RSS
— AJAY Basudev Bose (@AjayBos93388306) April 16, 2026
When Everyone knows RSS is Not Registered & Does not Pay any Tax is it justified to spend Tax Payers Money on such Private event??@RSSorg… pic.twitter.com/dW4IUtdNCg
Bose questioned the expenditure in the post X, “when Everyone knows RSS is Not Registered & Does not Pay any Tax is it justified to spend Tax Payers Money on such Private event??”
Reacting to the development, Karnataka’s IT-BT and Panchayat Raj Minister Priyank Kharge also criticised the spending.
In a post on X, he asked why public money was being used for what he described as a “private ideological project.”
"Modi Sarkar spent Rs 76,13,129 of public money on newspaper advertisements to celebrate 100 years of the RSS. Why is Government spending taxpayers money on an unregistered, non-tax-paying organisation to celebrate their centenary?," he added.
Why is public money being used to serve a private ideological project?
— Priyank Kharge / ಪ್ರಿಯಾಂಕ್ ಖರ್ಗೆ (@PriyankKharge) April 16, 2026
Modi Sarkar spent ₹76,13,129 of public money on newspaper advertisements to celebrate 100 years of the RSS.
Why is Government spending taxpayers money on an unregistered, non-tax-paying organisation to… pic.twitter.com/EoZ6Pim3IM
According to reports, the RSS describes itself as a volunteer-based organisation and has stated that it functions as a body of individuals rather than a registered entity.
Founded by Keshav Baliram Hedgewar in 1925, the organisation is marking its centenary year beginning from Vijaydashami in 2025, with the milestone observed on October 2.
