Siddaramaiah announces five acres of land for Shivagiri Mutt branch in coastal Karnataka
Mangaluru: Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has announced that the State Government is ready to provide five acres of land to establish a branch of Kerala’s Shivagiri Mutt in either Udupi or Mangaluru.
Speaking at the inauguration of the 100th year celebrations of the Mahasamadhi of Shri Narayana Guru, organised jointly by Shivagiri Mutt, Varkala and the Brahmashree Narayana Guru Study Chair of Mangalore University at the Mangalagangothri Campus in Konaje, the Chief Minister said that leaders including B.K. Hariprasad have been directed to identify suitable land.
Sharing the keynote message on the historic dialogue between Narayana Guru and Mahatma Gandhi, Lok Sabha Public Accounts Committee Chairman K.C. Venugopal said that the ideologies of Basavanna, Mahatma Gandhi, and Narayana Guru are embedded in the Indian Constitution. He expressed concern that the very Constitution built upon their principles is now under threat, much like the threats these reformers faced in their times. He urged society to uphold their teachings to advance social justice.
He also recalled the 1925 meeting between Gandhi and Narayana Guru, describing it as a landmark event during a time when the struggle for independence and the fight against untouchability were both at their peak. The dialogue laid the foundation for the long Vaikom Satyagraha, he noted.
Presiding over the event, Assembly Speaker U.T. Khader said that the grounds hosting this historic event will be named “Guru-Gandhi Maidan,” and funds would be sanctioned for the development of a park and playground there. He emphasised that true development is not limited to infrastructure but lies in fostering harmony and unity among people of all communities.
Highlighting the background of the Study Chair, senior Congress leader B.K. Hariprasad stated that the proposal for the Narayana Guru Study Chair began in 2013 with contributions of ₹35 lakh from his MLC funds. Further support of ₹10 lakh each from MP Nalin Kumar Kateel and MLC Harish Kumar was also provided. Recently, an additional ₹2 crore grant was sanctioned by the Chief Minister. Hariprasad requested further support for establishing the Shivagiri Mutt branch, following which Siddaramaiah assured the allocation of five acres of land.
Home Minister Dr. G. Parameshwara, District In-charge Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao, Women and Child Welfare Minister Lakshmi Hebbalkar, PWD Minister Satish Jarkiholi, Housing and Waqf Minister Zameer Ahmed Khan, former Union Minister Janardhan Poojary, several MLAs, MLCs, and local leaders were present.
Earlier, Shivagiri Mutt Secretary Shubha Ganananda Swamiji submitted an official request to the Chief Minister through K.C. Venugopal, seeking land allocation and government support for the Mutt’s Karnataka unit.
Mangalore University Vice-Chancellor Prof. Subrahmanya Yadapadithaya welcomed the dignitaries and participants.
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Centre spent Rs 76.13 lakh on print media ads for RSS centenary, reveals RTI
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.
