Udupi saffron flag row: Attended event in official capacity, says DC after Cong demand for action
Udupi (Karnataka) (PTI): Amid a row over her allegedly holding a saffron flag during the Paryaya Procession here, Udupi Deputy Commissioner T K Swaroopa has said she had attended the event in her official capacities and that there was no politically motivated participation on her part.
Her statement came in the wake of the District Congress Committee's Legal and Human Rights Cell writing to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah seeking action against Swaroopa for holding the saffron flag while launching the Paryaya Procession on January 18.
"On Sunday, January 18 at 3.00 am, as part of the biennial Paryayotsava programme of Udupi Sri Krishna Math, I flagged off the said Puraprevesh programme of the Swamiji as part of my duties as the Administrator of Udupi City Council. Similarly, I have participated in the civic honour event for the new paryaya swamiji and the Durbar programme held after the swamiji ascended the Sarvajna Peetha. I would like to bring to the attention of the public that there was no politically motivated participation," Swaroopa said in the statement.
Paryaya or Paryayotsava on January 18, marked the ceremonial transfer of ritual and administrative control of the Udupi Sri Krishna Temple to Shiroor Matha, with Sri Vedavardhana Tirtha Swamiji assuming the charge as the pontiff-administrator of the temple for the 2026-28 term.
In the letter to the CM on Monday, President of the Udupi District Congress Committee's Legal and Human Rights Cell President Harish Shetty had said that on January 18 morning, ahead of the procession from Jodu Katte to Krishna Math, Udupi BJP MLA Yashpal Suvarna handed the "RSS flag to the DC, which she raised and waved publicly".
Such conduct by the DC was unacceptable as it goes against service rules of the officer and also against the principles of secularism in the Constitution, he said, adding that this should be inquired into, and that suitable action should be taken in accordance with law.
The 'Paryaya' system in Udupi is a rotational arrangement under which the temple is managed by the Ashta (eight) mathas--Pejavara, Puttige, Adamaru, Krishnapura, Shiroor, Sodhe, Kaniyoor and Palimaru, each taking charge for two years.
The system was instituted by 13th-century philosopher-saint Sri Madhwacharya, founder of the Dvaita school of philosophy.
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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.
