Bengaluru: Minister Priyank Kharge slams MP Tejasvi Surya for supporting suspended PDO
Bengaluru: Karnataka Minister Priyank Kharge has criticised BJP MP Tejasvi Surya for publicly supporting a government employee suspended for participating in an RSS route march, calling it a “disturbing endorsement of service rule violations.”
The controversy arose after Tejasvi Surya tweeted in support of a Panchayat Development Officer (PDO) who was suspended for attending an RSS event. In his post, the Bengaluru South MP wrote that he had spoken to the suspended officer and assured him of personal legal assistance to challenge the “illegal suspension” before the appropriate tribunal and courts.
Surya further claimed that several High Courts had clarified that government employees have the right to participate in RSS programmes, adding that “the Siddaramaiah government’s action will not stand judicial scrutiny.” He also asserted that the BJP was ready to fight the matter legally.
Responding to Surya’s remarks, Minister Kharge took to X (formerly Twitter) and said, “It is interesting that a BJP MP is openly supporting government servants who violate the service rules set by the state government. This proves my earlier point.”
Kharge also cited key provisions of the Karnataka Civil Services (Conduct) Rules, which mandate political neutrality among public servants. “No government servant shall be a member of or otherwise associated with any political party, nor shall they participate in any political activity. They must also ensure that their family members do not engage in activities against the government,” he noted.
Kharge emphasised that if any dispute arises over whether an organisation’s activities are political in nature, the final decision rests with the government.
Hmmmmm…… interesting that BJP MPs are coming forward and defending people who are defying the service conduct rules laid down by the State Govt. This itself proves my point.
— Priyank Kharge / ಪ್ರಿಯಾಂಕ್ ಖರ್ಗೆ (@PriyankKharge) October 19, 2025
Anyway the rules states.
“No Government Servant shall be a member of, or be otherwise associated with,… pic.twitter.com/ryW21fK44B
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Ramadan fasting to kickoff from Thursday in Karnataka
Bengaluru: The Holy month of Ramadan will start from Thursday, February 19, announced convener of the State Moon Sighting Committee Maulana Maqsood Imran Rashadi on Wednesday.
Speaking at a press conference after the Moon Sighting Committee meeting held at the State Waqf Board office on Cunningham Road in the city on Wednesday evening, he said that there is no information about moon sighting anywhere in the capital Bengaluru, including other districts.
“However, after receiving reports of moon sightings in neighbouring states including Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Bihar, Odisha, Jharkhand, West Bengal, Rajasthan and Delhi, it has been decided to start fasting from Thursday,” he said.
The meeting was attended by Maulana Mufti Iftikhar Ahmed Qasmi, Maulana Ejaz Ahmed Nadvi and other members of the ulema.
