'We will consider RSS request for route march in Chittapur': Karnataka govt tells HC
Bengaluru (PTI): The Karnataka government on Friday informed the High Court that it will positively consider the proposal submitted by the Kalaburagi convenor of RSS to hold a route march in Chittapur town.
The submission came after the High Court's earlier direction on October 30, asking RSS convenor Ashok Patil to meet district authorities on November 5 at the Advocate General's office to discuss the modalities of conducting the event.
Senior advocate Aruna Shyam, representing the petitioner, and Advocate General (AG) Shashi Kiran Shetty were also directed to participate in the meeting to ensure smooth coordination.
During the hearing before Justice M G S Kamal, Aruna Shyam informed the court that the meeting held on November 5 "went very well" under the leadership of the Advocate General, with all parties actively participating. "We have made a representation, and the discussions were constructive," he submitted.
The advocate general told the court that there were 11 pending applications for similar processions across the state.
He said the authorities would consider all of them and grant permission as a one-time measure with certain conditions. "We will grant permission to everybody as a one-time measure, not to be seen as a precedent," the AG assured, seeking a week's time to finalize the permissions.
Recording the submissions, the High Court noted that the November 5 meeting was "fruitful and positive." It further stated that the petitioner's proposed dates--November 13 and 16--were being considered favourably and that the state would communicate its decision soon.a
The case will next be heard on November 13. The meeting on November 5 was the second such meeting convened following the court's earlier direction on October 24, when it asked the state to hold a peace-committee meeting with the organisers, after reports of tension in Chittapur regarding the proposed march.
The "peace meeting" held by the district administration in Kalaburagi on October 28 in connection with permission for RSS route march and similar rallies for nine other organisations in Chittapur had failed to reach any consensus.
The issue began when authorities in Chittapur, the home constituency of Minister Priyank Kharge, denied permission for the RSS route march on October 19, citing the possibility of disruption of peace and law and order.
The Tahsildar of Chittapur, had cited that the Bhim Army and other organisations have also informed, through a letter, that they too are willing to conduct a route march on the same route on the same day.
However, hearing the petition filed by one Ashok Patil on behalf of RSS on October 19, the High Court asked them to file a fresh application seeking permission to hold its route march in Chittapur. It further asked the authorities to consider the application and submit the report to the court.
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Compromised PM didn't sign trade deal with US, but a bargain for Adani's release: Rahul
New Delhi (PTI): Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Friday accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of signing a trade deal with the US only to secure the "release" of billionaire businessman Gautam Adani.
"Compromised PM did not strike a trade deal, but a bargain for Adani's release," Gandhi said in a post in Hindi on X, after reports that the US has agreed to settle the lawsuit that accused Adani of hiding alleged bribery.
The US government has agreed to settle the lawsuit filed against Adani, who is accused of duping investors by concealing that his company's huge solar energy project in India was being facilitated by an alleged bribery scheme, according to court filings published Thursday.
Reacting to the reports, Congress general secretary in-charge communications Jairam Ramesh said it was now clear why the PM agreed to the "hopelessly one-sided Indo-US trade deal that was really a steal by the US".
"And it is also clear why he abruptly halted Operation Sindoor on May 10, 2025, acting on President Trump's threats rather than on our national interest. Reportedly, the Trump Administration is about to drop all charges of corruption against Modani," he said on X.
"How much more compromised can the PM get?" Ramesh asked.
In the lawsuit filed in late 2024, the Securities and Exchange Commission accused Adani Group Chairman Gautam Adani and his nephew Sagar Adani, who is a director at the group's renewable energy unit Adani Green Energy Ltd, of agreeing to pay about USD 265 million in bribes to Indian government officials between approximately 2020 and 2024 to obtain lucrative solar energy supply contracts on terms that expected to yield USD 2 billion of profit over 20 years.
It was alleged in the lawsuit that Adani Group raised USD 2 billion in loans and bonds, including from US firms, on the backs of false and misleading statements related to the firm's anti-bribery practices and policies.
The ports-to-energy conglomerate had denied the allegations.
