Vindictiveness: Pralhad Joshi on Karnataka suspending 2 teachers over RSS march

Union Minister Pralhad Joshi accused the Karnataka government of targeting two teachers suspended for participating in an RSS march. He said the move was vindictive and legally untenable.Union Minister Pralhad Joshi slams Karnataka government. (File)Union Minister Pralhad Joshi on Friday accused the Karnataka government of acting with "hatred" by suspending two government school teachers for taking part in RSS route marches, and demanded that the action be withdrawn.He also questioned the DK Shivakumar government's priorities and said it should focus on tracing missing IAS officer Jnanendra Kumar Gangwar, who is wanted in alleged large-scale irregularities in the Karnataka Public Service Commission.Joshi said the suspension of the two teachers would not stand in court and alleged that the government was acting with "vindictiveness". BJP MLA Mahesh Tenginkai also criticised the move, calling it highly objectionable and politically motivated, and sought its immediate withdrawal."Today, IAS officer Jnanendra Kumar Gangwar is missing. Is the government's job to catch him, or is it to suspend two teachers for participating in the activities of the RSS," Joshi told reporters in Hubballi. The Education Department had suspended two teachers from Yadgi district, Gururaj Joshi and Anna Saheb Deshmukh, for attending an RSS route march, pending a departmental inquiry. The department said their participation in RSS Patha Sanchalana prima facie violated provisions of the Karnataka Civil Services (Conduct) Rules, 2021.Joshi said courts had earlier struck down attempts to restrict government employees from taking part in RSS activities. "Not just in the last 10 or 12 years, but whenever action has been taken against government employees for participating in Sangh activities since the 1970s and 1980s, or whenever attempts have been made to prevent or restrict the activities of the Sangh in one way or another, the courts have struck them down," he said. "The Supreme Court of India has given such judgments. A similar thing had happened in Punjab, where government employees were accused of participating in RSS activities. I will give you the details of the case," he added.Alleging that the government was acting out of "hatred", Joshi said it should stop acting with such "vindictiveness". "The suspension order will be struck down in court, and you will lose your honour and reputation," he said.Tenginkai said the RSS was an independent organisation and not linked to any political party. "The RSS has no connection with any party or political organisation. It is an organisation that functions independently. There is an open opportunity for everyone to participate in it," he said."BJP workers can participate, Congress workers can participate, JD(S) workers can participate, or anyone holding any responsibility can participate. There is no question of imposing any restriction on this," he added. Tenginkai alleged that the suspensions were politically motivated and demanded their immediate withdrawal, saying, "We will not tolerate this suspension under any circumstances."- EndsPublished By: India Today Web Desk Published On: Aug 28, 2026 14:08 IST